‘Oro’ award recalled amid animal cruelty issue

MANILA, Philippines – Because of a graphic depiction of a dog being slaughtered in one scene, the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award has been taken back from the film “Oro,” one of eight official entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Directed by Alvin Yapan and produced by a congressman, “Oro” was inspired by the 2014 Gata 4 massacre in which four miners from Camarines Sur were killed by suspects reportedly belonging to the Sagip Kalikasan Task Force (SKTF), a group formed to stop illegal logging and mining activities.

The film relates how a feisty kapitana of a mining community, played by Irma Adlawan who won as Best Actress, rallied the residents’ resistance against armed men pretending to be environmentalists who tried to take over mining operations.

Sen. Grace Poe called on the MMFF organizers to look into the matter of whether a dog was actually butchered as part of the filming of the movie, in violation of Animal Welfare Act or Republic Act 8485 (as amended by RA 10631), which protects the welfare of animals.

Section 6 of the law states that “the killing of any animal, other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horse, bear and crocodiles are hereby declared unlawful” except in some instances such as when it is done as part of the religious ritual of an established religion or sect “with proper coordination with the Bureau of the Animal Industry and the Committee on Animal Welfare.”

“I condemn such act,” said Poe, “and would move for the invalidation of the FPJ Award given to the film. The MMFF and the producers of Oro should fully cooperate with the concerned government agency on this matter. Artistic license does not justify the violation of our laws. Though I am not part of the jury that decided on the award, it is my responsibility to uphold the values of FPJ who would never condone an act of animal cruelty.”

Yapan was quoted as saying that what was actually slaughtered was a goat with prosthetics to make it look like a dog, an explanation that was deemed “not credible.”

“Aside from the criminal liability,” Poe added, “if indeed proven, the MMFF should also consider applicable administrative sanctions against the producers and/or filmmakers for any misrepresentation before the MMFF selection committee on this matter which in itself already justifies the movie being stripped of any and all awards it received, among other sanctions.”

The scene in question, which Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) head Liza Diño described as “very graphic and very disturbing,” outraged Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) head Anna Cabrera, who planned to file criminal charges against the “Oro” producers pending the result of a thorough investigation. 

“The film is declared suspended until the producers take the required steps, that is editing the controversial scene,” said Diño. “It has been withdrawn from the theaters and may not be shown during the extension of the MMFF. We thank the theater owners for agreeing to the extension.”

The festival was supposed to end yesterday but has been extended to Saturday, Jan. 7, upon the request of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

But even if the scene is edited, according to Cabrera, the fact remained that a dog was slaughtered in the movie.

“That is not right so we are disappointed,” she stressed.

It is a wonder why the MMFF screening committee approved the inclusion of “Oro” in the first place, and why the MMFF board of judges “overlooked” the alleged “criminal violation” and still gave the movie the FPJ Award.

In an official statement, the MMFF said that it does not condone and will not condone any such wrongdoing or any misrepresentation in such regard and called on PAWS and the “Oro” guys to a meeting last Monday afternoon.

Upon prior consultation with the family of the late Fernando Poe Jr., the MMFF executive committee announced its decision to withdraw the FPJ Award granted to “Oro” last Dec. 29 during the festival’s Gabi ng Parangal Awards Night.

“Without making any judgment on the artistic merit of the film or cinematic depiction,” continued the official statement, “the MMFF finds the present controversy on the alleged killing of a dog in the course or filming of the movie effectively casts doubt on the movie’s ability to exemplify the human and cultural values espoused by the late Fernando Poe Jr.”

Asked if the Poe family is amenable to giving the award to another film, Poe said no.

“We will not transfer the award anymore,” she said.

Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) yesterday asked the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) to withdraw the award given to the movie “Oro” and to stop showing the movie in theaters nationwide.

Aside from the withdrawal, PETA said the MMFF should conduct a full investigation and determine if charges should be filed against the director and producer. – With Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan