Charles Teves
During a Senate hearing on the Hollywood film ‘Plane’, Senator Robin Padilla criticized a movie director for clapping. He said that Muslims would not accept that the movie was fiction.
During a Senate hearing on the Hollywood film ‘Plane’, Senator Robin Padilla was angered by the clapping of Edward Mark Meily, the President of the Directors Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI), in response to Senator Grace Poe’s statement about the proposal for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban ‘Plane’ for allegedly portraying the Philippines in a negative light. Padilla scolded Meily and asserted that Muslims would not accept the movie as fiction.
Senator Grace Poe suggested during the Senate hearing that the Philippines could improve its image by creating local films that depict the country in a positive light. She mentioned several movies, including those featuring her late father, Fernando Poe Jr. Poe had previously served as the chairperson of the MTRCB before entering politics.
During the discussion, Padilla, a former actor, was displeased with Meily’s clapping and disapproved.
“No, pumapalakpak ka. Bawal dito. Kanina pa ‘ko kumakalma sa inyo. Hindi ko gustong pumapalakpak ka. This is my hearing,” Padilla said.
WATCH: Senator Robin Padilla scolds a director when the film Plane was being discussed in a hearing, saying that Muslims will never accept that the movie is fiction.
Padilla earlier said that the film presents a bad image of the country. | @DFernandezINQ pic.twitter.com/MwdFxHslQy
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 23, 2023
Meily expressed regret to the senator and acknowledged his respect for his emotions. He stated, “Humihingi ako ng paumanhin, senator, I agree with you. Nirerespeto ko ‘yung nararamdaman mo. I am active also in helping with the BARMM authority through our government services.”
“Ang posisyon lang namin is about banning of films in general. Nirerespeto namin ‘yung pakiramdam n’yo and I agree with that,” he added.
Fellow actor Jaime Fabregas and netizens didn’t like how Padilla responded to Meily.
Sen Robinhood, sa saligang batas:
Article 19 states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.— Jaime Fábregas (@fabre_jaime) February 26, 2023
In a tweet, Fabregas cited Article 19, which says “people should be able to express their ideas without resistance.”
Eto pa, Sen Robinhood: Sec 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
— Jaime Fábregas (@fabre_jaime) February 26, 2023
Padilla argued that the movie ‘Plane’ starring Gerard Butler, depicts Jolo in Sulu and the Philippines in a negative light, despite being filmed in Puerto Rico.
The plot revolves around a plane crash where militiamen terrorize passengers. Padilla believes that even though the movie is fictional, Muslims will not accept it because it portrays the people of Jolo as terrorists, which is invalid.
“Yun pong patungkol diyan sa sinasabing fiction, alam n’yo mga kapatid — maaring sayo, nakakapalakpak kayo pero kami sa mga Muslim, hindi kami kailanman papalakpak,” the senator said during the Senate committee on public information and mass media hearing.
“Fiction sa inyo ‘yan pero tumatama sa amin ‘yun. Jolo is not fiction. The Philippines is not fiction. Lugar namin yun. Maaaring sa inyo ok. Pero sa amin, mananatili ang posisyon namin: nasaktan kami rito,” he added.
Padilla held a meeting with MTRCB officials to further push for banning the film and issue a condemnation. In response, the MTRCB said that they would reevaluate the film. This led to the DGPI releasing a statement stating that they would oppose censorship of movies and any infringement on freedom of expression.
