'Aswang' director Alyx Arumpac on critics saying film was one-sided: 'I really wanted to side with truth'

"Aswang" by Alyx Arumpac has received international acclaim for its eye-opening take on the Duterte administration's deadly war on drugs.

However, the light it shed on government officials — or supposed lack thereof — has also prompted some critics to pass off the documentary as unbalanced or "one-sided."

The multi-awarded Filipino director and former television news producer boldly defended this aspect to her film in the latest episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast."

"Well, I think to be fair to everyone, number one: I really wanted to side with truth. This idea of truth. Truth is not always objective," Alyx said.

"I feel like it's not really fair to interview someone, say, from the government, who would tell me things that we both know are not really true, would defend actions or would say that the government has not [been] killing people," she added.

"I think that's not fair to both of us. I think I would only represent this person unfairly on my film and he will not come out very well. I don't think anyone would like that."

Alyx said it "felt like a personal decision" not to include President Rodrigo Duterte's speeches about his war on drugs, which was a major part of his electoral platform when he ran for president.

"I felt like there was no space for this. He had so much platforms already. Ang laki na ng platform ng government to say what they want to say, to spread their lies on these things," the director said.

"I felt, like, the film -- it's a space," she added.

"It's a platform that I could offer to other people who really needed to tell their stories."

With all her years as a news producer, Alyx explained how the truth could easily be "distorted."

"And this is actually in the film. They (media) would say na 'Big time dealer 'to kaya ito pinatay ng pulis.' But when you actually visit the family, sobrang as in barong-barong. Imposible naman siguro maging big time dealer itong taong 'to na ni-refute din ng lahat ng tao around them," Alyx said.

"And I think, like, one visit lang siguro from journalist would do that. I certainly have my opinions but, I think, everything that came out in the film, that was the truth," she said.

In the interview, Alyx gave her take on the so-called "nanlaban" narrative, and how so many people choose believe it despite the "overwhelming" evidence stacked against it.

'Yun ang masakit, e, kasi ang daming ganu'ng ebidensya, tapos ayun pa rin. Nandito pa rin tayo. Ang dami pa ring nagsasabi na hindi naman totoo," she said.

Nevertheless, Alyx was proud to have done her part when it comes to shedding light to the brutal war on drugs.

"Aswang" has garnered multiple recognitions, including Best Film at the 44th Gawad Urian Awards.

"I take these little victories whenever I hear of young people showing the film to their mother, their parents and turning them, you know. I think like I said earlier people just given a chance, there's bound to some hearts opened, e, or some minds changed somehow. And that is always our goal," Direk Alyx said.

"Kapag ayaw talagang magbago, problema niya na 'yun. Wala na tayong magagawa roon. I think we should really go for those who are willing to open their minds and hearts." — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News