PAO chief hits ‘Ang Probinsyano’ for using agency’s logo

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta slammed on Friday the television series “Ang Probinsyano” for supposedly using the agency’s logo without its consent.

Earlier, the show also reaped the ire of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde for allegedly putting the image of the national police in bad light.

READ: ‘Ang Probinsyano’ gives ‘bad impression’ of cops – PNP chief

“Ginamit ‘yung logo, ‘yan ang sinasabi ni Senator Ping eh, ‘yung paggamit ng mga insignia, ‘yung mga logo. Hindi naman pinagpaalam sa PAO iyan eh,” she said in an interview with DZIQ.

Acosta was referring to the statement of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who earlier said the use of police uniforms in the show as exactly as the real uniform of the PNP is a violation of the law.

READ: Lacson: Ang Probinsyano’s negative portrayal of cops ‘unfair’

“Dapat ho pinagpaalam man lang ho iyon (use of logo) dahil may batas sa use of insignia (They should have asked for consent from us in using the logo because there is a law on the use of insignia),” she said.

Acosta also lamented that the hit television series supposedly portrayed the PAO as afraid of government officials.

“Madalas kong makontra ang Pangulo. Hindi naman ako natatakot dahil may batas,” she said. “Ang PAO ho walang inuurungan basta mandato natin.”

(I often disagree with the President. I am not afraid because there is a law… PAO does not back down as long as its actions are according to its mandate.)

The PAO chief likewise criticized the show for supposedly airing an episode where characters consulted the agency for their lost relatives. She said the agency in charged of those cases should not be PAO but the Commission on Human Rights.

For Acosta, the staff of the show should have consulted PAO first.

“Sumangguni para hindi ‘Wow Mali’ (Consult first to not be mistaken),” she said, referring to a famous gag show.

Acosta asserted, however, that Ricardo Dalisay, the show’s protagonist played by Coco Martin, is her “favorite.” She said she is an avid fan of the show, which has since been extended to continuously air on television. /muf

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