Nora Aunor: ‘Oro’ director liar, killing dog part of script

MANILA, Philippines – Claiming to have read the script of controversial film “Oro”, veteran actress Nora Aunor on Tuesday called film director Alvin Yapan a liar for denying the dog butchering for the film.

Aunor, lead actress for another Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Kabisera”, said she was previously considered for the film “Oro” but was replaced by MMFF Best Actress Irma Adlawan. She claimed the latter film’s script indeed indicated the dog slaying scene after she personally read it.

Veteran actress Nora Aunor also present at the public hearing @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/gUMxgMlIMZ

— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) January 24, 2017

During the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing on the issues hounding the MMFF, the concern on violation of Animal Welfare by “Oro” production team was discussed. Yapan insisted there was no dog killed for the film.

He also admitted that one of his staff made an alibi that a goat was used in the film instead of the dog, which Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Liza Diño initially believed until the issue came out.

Yapan said the scene of the dog slaying was only taken as part of the tradition of the province where they shot the film. He denied that a staff or an actor actually killed the dog, saying a professional butcher killed the dog and the scene was only incidental.

He added that the dog was not brutally killed, which prompted Aunor to violently react to his statement.

 "Sinungaling po sila kasi unang una, yung aso, yung sinasabi, pinukpok nang ilang beses," the veteran actress insisted.

Sen. Joel Villanueva likewise questioned Yapan’s statement, saying that it was just “perfect timing” that their team was able to shoot the dog slaying in the province.

To pacify the issue, Senate committee chair Grace Poe asked Yapan to apologize for the dog killed in the film.

"Taos puso, buong puso kaming nagpapaumanhin sa madami naming na-offend na tao at sensibilidad," Yapan said.

"Kailangan niyo rin maintindihan na hindi ko to ginagawa upang mang-gago. Ito ay reaction ko bilang creative artist at director kung paano ay yung everyday pagpatay ng tao ay hindi na natin iniinda."

However, MMFF selection committee member, Mae Paner, still hit at Yapan, saying that his statement was not apologetic.

“Alvin, hindi ka humihingi ng tawad kasi ang humihingi ng tawad ay umaamin na mali siya. Lalo mo pang sinasabi na dapat kang intindihin. Huwag mong ipagpilitan na nangyari lang ang pagpatay dahil ginamit mo pa yung creativity at passion mo. E, creative din kami, passionate din kami," Paner said.

“Hindi mo naman pinatay si Joem Bascon di ba? Hindi mo siya pinatay nang totoo pero tinotoo mo yung aso. Huwag mong gamitin ang kultura ng iba para ka makalusot. Nagpapalusot ka, kuya,” she argued.

‘Oro’ violated Animal Welfare Act

Despite Yapan’s apology, Poe said the case against “Oro” will pursue since it was clear that the team indeed violated the laws. Poe earlier called to revoke the FPJ Memorial award from "Oro" after the MMFF committee proved the film committed animal cruelty.

During the probe, Diño noted that “Oro” violated the animal welfare act since the production team failed to secure a permit to use an animal in their film. She cited that  the FDCP met with the Bureau of Animal Industry to address the meeting.

The FDCP head said they learned from the BAI  that among its requirements were to secure a permit and assign a veterinarian who will take care of the animal’s welfare and rights during the film.

“If proper permits are secured, nasa BAI ang responsibilidad on making sure that 'no animal was harmed during the filming of the movie'. This didn't happen in the case of 'Oro' since the production failed to secure a permit,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

Diño said the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and BAI drafted a memorandum of understanding on the rules and regulations regarding the humane use of animals in TV and film productions so that no such incident will occur again.