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MMFF recalls FPJ award from ‘Oro’ amid animal cruelty issue
The Metro Manila Film Festival executive committee has withdrawn the FPJ Memorial Award given to the film “Oro” after Sen. Grace Poe released a statement regarding a controversial scene depicting the killing of a dog.
"I call on the MMFF organizers to look into the matter of whether a dog was actually butchered as part of the filming of the movie Oro in violation of the existing law on animal welfare," Poe said in a statement on Monday.
"If in fact that were the case [if a dog was indeed killed for the film], I condemn such act and would move for the invalidation of the FPJ award given to the film," she added.
The award is given out at the annual festival in honor of Poe's father, the late film star Fernando Poe Jr.
In a separate statement, MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer said that the festival had consulted with the Poe family.
“Upon consultation with the family of the late Fernando Poe, Jr, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee announces the withdrawal of the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award recently granted to the film 'Oro,'” Ferrer said.
He added, “Without making any judgment on the artistic merit of the film or cinematic depiction, the MMFF finds the present controversy on the alleged killing of a dog in the course of the filming of the movie effectively casts a doubt on the movie's ability to exemplify the human and cultural values espoused by the late Fernando Poe, Jr.”
Representatives from the film's production team have yet to comment on the recall of the award.
PETA wants screenings stopped
In a statement released on Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia also called on the MMFF executive committee to revoke the awards received by the film and to stop its screening.
According to the animal welfare group, whistleblowers—who wished to remain anonymous—confirmed that “ the controversial dog slaughter scene was in fact real.”
“Whether or not the dog slaughter scene was intentionally staged or a dog was coincidentally slaughtered at the location of the movie, the fact remains that the killing was illegal. Instead of watching a dog die slowly and after being beaten to death in front of their cameras, this crime could and should have been prevented. Filmmakers exhibiting their work in last year’s MMFF are supposed to raise awareness about social injustices using their films, but Alvin Yapan, the director and writer, and Mark Shandii Bacolod, the producer of Oro condoned animal cruelty instead,” PETA said.
The group also asserted that slaughtering dogs is a violation of the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines and the Anti-Rabies Act of the Philippines.
“A full investigation of the movie by the MMFF needs to be conducted with possible charges for the director and producer,” PETA said.
The MMFF had earlier met with another animal rights group, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), regarding the issue.
READ: After meeting: Animal welfare group dismayed by MMFF, Oro response to controversy — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News
