MMFF violated due process in disqualifying ‘Honor Thy Father’—solons

LAWMAKERS in the House of Representatives on Monday said the cast and crew of the film “Honor Thy Father” were done injustice because they were not given due process when their film was disqualified from the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in 2015.

During the hearing by the House Metro Manila Development committee on Monday, MMFF executive committee member Marichu Maceda admitted that the special rules committee which she heads issued a resolution recommending the disqualification of the film as early as Dec. 14.

But the executive committee chairperson Atty. Emerson Carlos was only told about the violation of the film on Dec. 25, a day before they conducted an emergency meeting to officially disqualify the film. Carlos is also the incumbent Metro Manila Development Authority chairperson.

Moreover, the jurors from the Movie Television Review and Classification Board were told as early as Dec. 21 to not include “Honor Thy Father” on the list of Best Picture finalists, which was way before the Dec. 26 executive committee meeting that officially disqualified the film, said juror Carmen Musngi.

Asked why the executive committee was not informed early on about the disqualification, Maceda said the special rules committee did not want to bother Carlos who was only appointed new chairperson.

She also said the MMFF executive committee was only able to meet on Dec. 26 because it had been busy in the preparations of the MMFF parade on Dec. 23.

READ: MMFF funds not subject to audit, MMDA chief tells solons

The film was disqualified on Dec . 26 or a day before the MMFF awards night on Dec. 27.

When OFW Family Rep. Johnny Revilla said he could not accept Maceda’s excuse, Maceda admitted the MMFF committee’s lapse that it could have disqualified the film earlier on.

“I think it’s important to call the executive committee regarding the disqualification. I would think it would be more important than the parade. I’m sorry but I don’t accept your answer,” Revilla said.

“I admit, we should have disqualified early enough,” Maceda answered.

But she maintained that the film committed a violation.

The film director and producers wrote to the MMFF as early as Oct. 22 about their bid to qualify in the MMFF, but they did not disclose their plans to join their film in two other film festivals, Maceda said.

She said the film was used as an opening film to the Cinema One Originals on Nov. 8, 2015, and the MMFF was only informed about this in a letter they received on Nov 6.

The film’s producers and directors also did not disclose that the film was premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival on Nov. 14 and 18.

Maceda said the industry practice is to inform the executive committee at least one week in advance about this matter.

Carlos added that despite knowing of the controversy that would follow their decision, the committee decided to push through with the disqualification to send a message that rules must be followed.

“The reason why we disqualified ‘Honor Thy Father’ is because we want to send a message to the future entries of the film festival that a violation of the rules should not be taken lightly,” Carlos said.

For their part, Atty. Agnes Maranan, legal counsel for Reality Entertainment Inc., said there was an attempt to make the film’s disqualification a mere technical issue.

She maintained that the film’s premiere in the Cinema One original is not intended to generate income, which is an exemption to the rule prohibiting screenings in other film festivals.

Maranan said they could not be faulted for being late in submitting the disclosure because the MMFF only invited the film to be an official entry on Oct. 23.

Maranan also pointed out that they were not given a 10 day period to appeal the film’s disqualification.

“Part of the rules is that we have a 10-day period to appeal. By disqualifying us one day on a Saturday afternoon by e-mail, Honor thy Father was deprived of our right to appeal and of due process. Where is our 10-day period there?” Maranan said.

Lawmakers took the side of the film’s makers in saying the MMFF violated the right to due process of the director and producers.

Quezon city Rep. Alfred Vargas, a former actor himself, said while the MMFF disqualified the film on technicality, the MMFF violated several of its own rules as well in not granting due process.

“Ang lumalabas sa hearing na ito, in disqualifying the film, you violated several rules yourself… I see bias painted all over. injustice painted all over,” Vargas said.

“So natatapakan niyo agad ‘yung karapatan ng film na ‘yun. Napakahirap gumawa ng film sa totoo lang… It just pains me as an actor and legislator for this to happen, in disrespecting the rights of the producers and actors and everybody in this production,” Vargas added.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said not only were the film cast and crew denied due process, the disqualification of the film ahead of the executive committee meeting also influenced the jurors’ decision in selecting the Best Picture.

He said it is injustice for the film to be disqualified from the Best Picture category  on Dec. 21 or days before the MMFF committee conducted its emergency meeting to officially disqualify the film on Dec. 26.

“There was injustice… Hindi dapat ininstruct ang jurors kung wala pang executive committee meeting. What if the executive committee reverses or does not agree with the findings of the (special rules) committee?” Colmenares said.

“There was no basis for the instruction (to the jurors to disqualify the film). It influenced their decision because it no longer considered ‘Honor Thy Father,'” he added.

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The House investigation stemmed from the House Resolution 2581 filed by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who was part of the film’s cast.

Rep. Fernandez directed the MMFF committee to investigate “Honor Thy Father’s” disqualification from the category for the film’s supposed non-disclosure of its participation in two other film festivals.

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.

Despite the controversies, the film still bagged five awards – Best Supporting Actor for Tirso Cruz III, Best Child Performer for Krystal Brimmer, Best Make-Up Artists, and Best Song for Armi Millare’s version of the Sampaguita original, “Tao.”