PARTY-LIST group Gabriela has urged the producers and the cast of television series "FPJ's Ang Probinsiyano" to assert their right to free speech and artistic freedom amid the threat of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to file charges against those behind the series if it will continue with its negative portrayal of the police force.
In a joint statement, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said the DILG's legal threat against the series is dangerous and is tantamount to censorship.
Gabriela condemned the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for "exerting pressure" on Ang Probinsiyano to portray cops in good light amid the fact that policemen themselves taint their image, with the "bloody anti-drug crackdown" and "sexual abuse of women and minors."
DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya earlier said the agency is considering filing charges against the producers of FPJ's Ang Probinsiyano if they continue with their "grossly unfair and inaccurate portrayal of our police."
"It is ridiculous that the DILG, under the notorious former general Eduardo Año, is even seriously considering legal actions against the producers of the show," the group said.
"This is censorship, as it amounts to creating prior restraint on the part of the producers in sustaining the storyline of the show. This will also set a very dangerous precedent, as the DILG will abuse legal actions to sanction shows and content that are inconsistent with its desired image of the PNP," stated Gabriela.
The women's group said instead of attacking the series, the DILG should instead pursue cases and convict cops who have been tagged in sex-for-freedom cases, rape, sexual harassment, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other criminal acts.
"Ironically, the DILG is raising a howl over the portrayal of cops in the hit series but has never spoken strongly about criminal cops abusing women and the people in real life," they said. (VoxPop Philippines)
