DGPI to probe ‘Oro’ dog slaughter issue

Oro director Alvin Yapan (left) and 2016 MMFF Best Actress and Oro star Irma Idlawan appear with MMFF Executive Committee member Ed Cabagnot on Jan. 2, 2017 to respond to allegations that the filmmakers behind Oro committed animal cruelty by showing a dog being slaughtered. (PHOTO BY DEXTER CABALZA / INQUIRER)

Directors Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) on Thursday said that they will investigate the complaint from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) regarding the slaughter of a dog in Alvin Yapan’s “Oro.”

Yapan is also a member of DGPI.

“As an institution and the foremost organization of Film and TV directors, DGPI does not condone any illegal act, rights violations and animal cruelty committed during the filmmaking process,” DGPI said in a statement.

The group also added that they will impose commensurate sanctions on Yapan if the PAWS complaint was proven true.

Last Tuesday, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee announced the withdrawal of the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence it earlier granted to “Oro,” one of this year’s entries, due to its controversial dog slaughter scene. JE

READ: MMFF strips ‘Oro’ of FPJ memorial award