Philippine Showbiz Today Vol 13 No 22 | Page 4

4 Philippine Showbiz Today Headline News November 22 - December 7, 2018 DILG, ABS-CBN execs iron out problems on Ang Probinsyano Walang gusot na hindi napapag-usapan,’ says the Philippine National Police after DILG Secretary Eduardo Año met with the cast of the popular TV series Days after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced its displeasure for the TV series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, its officials and the show’s cast posed for the cameras, all smiles, after their meeting on Wednesday, November 22. The meeting was held two days after DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said producers of the show approached the agency to iron out their differences. Photos of the meeting were shared by the community group of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The agency earlier said it would “seriously consider filing legal action and imposing sanctions” if Ang Probinsyano, which airs on ABS-CBN, continued its “grossly unfair and inaccurate portrayal of our police force.” The PNP, which is portrayed in the popular drama series as having a scalawag chief and inviting revenge from wronged ex- cops, is under the administrative supervision of the DILG. Because of this, Año in a Rappler Talk, said the show should change its plot as it was damaging the morale of members of PNP. In the photo’s caption on Wednesday, the PNP community are no kinks that can’t be ironed group said, “Walang gusot na out.) ● hindi napapag-usapan.” (There SMILES. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (middle) smiles with Coco Martin after airing his displeasure for teleserye Ang Probinsyano, which Martin stars in. ( PNP Photo) Eddie Garcia, Gina Pareño on Probinsyano controversy Seasoned actors Gina Pareño and Eddie Garcia have given their opinions on the issue “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” is embroiled in with the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Gina, who has been a close friend of Coco since co-starring on “Tayong Dalawa” in 2009, said she thinks viewers understand the story of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” is “fictional.” The show has been called out for allegedly portraying the police force in a bad light. What’s her advice to Coco? “Apo (my grandson), stay positive. I know you can overcome (the controversies). After all, we’re just doing our job as actors,” she said in Filipino. Gina once played the character Olga on “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” As for Eddie, who is part of the “Probinsyano” cast as Don Emilio Syquia/Señor Gustavo Torralba, he doesn’t want to dip his finger in the issue save to say that Coco has been doing a good job as actor on and director of the series. “As for the issue, well it’s up to them, its management’s call (on how to address it). I have nothing to do with it, I’m just an actor there,” he said. Bulletin Entertainment caught up with Gina and Eddie at a recent press conference for the movie “Hintayan Ng Langit.” The story is about ex-lovers who meet again in the waiting room of purgatory. Written by spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo based on his one-act stage play for The Virgin Lab Fest, “Hintayan Ng Langit” is a co-production between Globe Studios and Project 8 Corner San Joaquin Projects. The movie won the Best Actor and Audience Choice awards at QCinema Festival a few weeks back and it opens in theaters today. Heat rages on Back to “Ang Probinsyano,” a recent memorandum from the PNP stated that all units, offices, and personnel of PNP are to “immediately refrain from assisting, to withdraw their support to the production of the said teleserye in terms of PNP resources like patrol cars, firearms, personnel, venues, and other items and gadgets being used in the teleserye.” Also part of the memo was the talk participated in by the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the production of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” Oct. 17 and 23, 2018, wherein the latter promised “to make the necessary corrections on the issues raised by the PNP in a week’s time.” It was noted, however, that after two weeks, no “visible correction” on the show regarding the “daily wrong portrayal of PNP officers as corrupt and ineffective” was seen. Earlier, ABS-CBN released a statement stating that everything on the show is “purely fictitious” as stated at the start of the show every night. Coco Martin has also addressed the issue on Instagram, even writing “pasensya na po.” The actor, who was in Bicol over the weekend along with the other cast members of “Ang Probinsyano,” said they will continue to strive in giving their viewers a good show. ● - S.M. Bernardino, MB MTRCB chair asked about Ang Probinsyano issue Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Rachel Areñas has given her side on the issue between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and ABS-CBN’s primetime TV series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” Areñas reiterated the agency — which is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, movies and home videos – doesn’t have the right to stop the airing of the program due to supposed “bad portrayal” of cops. “Wala po sa poder namin ‘yan,” she explained. “Sunod- sunod naman po ‘yung ano namin, since 2016 pa ang dialogue namin with them.” Areñas also noted MTRCB doesn’t practice censorship. “We cannot also prohibit negative depictions because we are sort of a bridge on the constitutionally protected freedom of expression, and also the right of the state to regulate,” she added. PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde lamented last week that “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” gives a “bad impression” of police officers. He raised concern over the show promoting the idea of “instant justice” as well as representing the PNP chief as the villain. When the show host asked Arenas if she sees the same thing, she answered: “Kailangang may redeeming factor o magandang She also stressed “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” does not violate the guidelines of MTRCB. “Actually nagkaroon kami ng conference na nandoon ang ‘Ang Probinsyano’ at ang PNP. In fact, ang suggestion, ang napag- usapan, ‘bakit hindi kayo kumuha ng adviser o consultant from PNP para alam pati ang uniform na isusuot, kung ano ba ang tama?’ (Kunyari) ‘Tama ba ‘yung star na nasa uniform?’ Kasi that’s one of their concerns also,” she pointed out. MTRCB chairperson Rachel Areñas A recent memorandum value na napupulot ang mga from the PNP stated that all manonood. Doon sa mga nakikita units, offices, and personnel of namin na past episodes, mayroon PNP are to “immediately refrain naman ding natututunan ang mga Continued on next page bata, na good always prevails.”