ABS-CBN apologizes to Dantes family over use of photos on ‘Ang Probinsyano’

Dantes family: Baby Zia, Marian and Dingdong Dantes.  Image:Instagram/@marianrivera

After Kapuso actor Dingdong Dantes sent an open letter to the management of top-rating primetime action series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” ABS-CBN released an official statement over the controversial use of the actor’s family photos in an episode of the show.

On Tuesday, ABS-CBN’s Head of Corporate Communications Kane Errol Choa released the network’s side of the issue through an e-mail.

According to the statement, the network apologizes to the Dantes family for the use of their photos on one of FPJAP’s episodes.

The network added that they have commissioned a third-party contractor to be responsible for photo props to be used in the scene. The network also said an investigation on the matter is now being conducted and assured that such incidents will not happen again.

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano apologizes to Dingdong Dantes and his family and assures that there was no intent to disrespect or offend him and his family in the use of their photos in the program. The production team commissioned a third-party contractor to create the photo props used in the program. It was not aware that the original of the photographs used were those from Mr. Dantes’ wedding and the baptism of his daughter. The program is conducting further investigation to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future,” said ABS-CBN in its statement.

It all started when fan page DongYanatics informed the actor about the issue by tagging him in a post showing the photo of him and his wife Kapuso primetime queen Marian Rivera during their 2014 grand wedding. Another photo that was used in the scene was that of their daughter Baby Zia Dantes during her baptism.

According to the actor, clear legal and moral rights were violated with the use of the photos without the permission of his family and of the photographer.

“I appreciate that you found artistic inspiration from the original photos. Unfortunately, there is the inescapable consequence that legal and moral rights were violated here. And as you may very well be aware of, established industry practice is against such act as it amounts to disrespect. Worst of all, as a father and husband, I cannot help but feel offended and deeply hurt by such actions, which happened not just once, but twice. Basic rules of courtesy in this case dictate that you first secure permission from the photographer and my family,” said Dantes.  /muf