THE funds for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) are not subject to audit although the proceeds come from the taxpayers’ money, the House of Representatives learned on Monday.
Metro Manila Film Festival chairperson Emerson Carlos made this admission during the House Metro Manila Development committee investigating the disqualification of the film “Honor Thy Father.”
Congressmen grilled the MMFF chair who is also Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman on the use of its amusement tax sourced from the local government unit.
When asked if the MMFF is subject to review by the Commission on Audit (COA), Carlos said its funds are not audited.
Panel chairman Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said the committee was informed by COA that it was aware of the issue as early as 2009.
“I think COA last 2009 took cognizance of the issue. We have a copy of the executive summary of COA dated September 2009. In other words, this report would mean that the COA has as a government entity that took cognizance of the taxpayers’ money that was now entrusted to the MMFF,” Castelo said.
READ: ‘Honor Thy Father’ actor says MMFF exec linked to rival entries
Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, a member of the cast in the “Honor Thy Father” who filed the resolution for the investigation, asked the committee to tackle why the MMFF funds are not being audited in the next hearing.
Carlos was also rebuked by congressmen for lying under oath and twisting the definition of an amusement tax.
Carlos said amusement taxes which fund the MMFF are mere donations from the local government unit.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said Carlos twisted the definition of the amusement tax to make it appear that the funds sourced from it are not taxpayers’ money.
“An amusement tax is tax imposed on the movie goer. It can never be changed of its character. I am surprised how he has already twisted the definition of the amusement tax,” Atienza said.
“Honor Thy Father” director Erik Matti lamented the MMFF’s disqualification of his film. He said the MMFF seems too concerned only with films that make money.
“The whole MMFF issue is all about money. It’s only concerned with money, not the welfare of producers and taxpayers who support them,” Matti said.
Film producer Dondon Monteverde said the investigation is not about reclaiming the Best Picture category, but about the future of the film industry.
“The MMFF scandal opened a proverbial can of worms… This is not above our film; it’s about the future of the film,” Monteverde said.
The House investigation stemmed from the House Resolution 2581 filed by Fernandez.
READ: MMFF violated due process in disqualifying ‘Honor Thy Father’—solons
He directed the MMFF committee to investigate the movie’s disqualification from the category for the film’s supposed non-disclosure of its participation in another film festival.
“Be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, by the House of Representatives, to direct the Committee on Metro Manila Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the disqualification of the film entry ‘Honor Thy Father’ from the selection of the Best Picture Category of the MMFF 2015 Awards,” the resolution read.
The controversial film is about a quick-easy scheme through a pyramid scam led by Cruz’s family until his family was put in danger after their investor was killed. The film was disqualified on technicality from the Best Picture category because it was used as an introduction film to another film festival.
