Legal action vs ‘Ang Probinsyano’ is censorship – lawyer

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal (right) with ‘Ang Probinsyano’ lead actor Coco Martin in a chance encounter at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help University in Las Piñas City three years ago. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The plan of the government to take legal action against the producers of the television series “Ang Probinsyano” is “plain and simple censorship and an attack against freedom of expression,” an election lawyer said Monday.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) bared plans of suing the producers of the “Ang Probinsyano” over its negative portrayal of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

READ: DILG mulling raps vs ‘Ang Probinsyano’ producers

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the portrayal of a crooked President and PNP was only a “work of fiction,” adding that the officers of DILG and the PNP should not be too “thin-skinned” when they are scrutinized by the public.

“While the teleserye portrays a crooked President in cahoots with an equally crooked PNP chief, everybody knows and the producers of the show admits that it is just a “work of fiction,” Macalintal said in a statement.

He added that the show had been issuing a disclaimer on its episodes that all persons depicted in them were “fictitious.”

“As public officials, the officers of the DILG and the PNP should not be too thin-skinned when their functions and duties are subjected to scrutiny by the public,” he added.

The PNP has ordered all its units to stop allowing the teleserye “Ang Probinsyano” from using their personnel, equipment, and facilities following the show’s alleged negative portrayal of the agency.

READ: PNP bans ‘Ang Probinsyano’ from using police assets, personnel

Macalintal said the Philippine government might become the laughing stock of the world if it would censor producers or compel them to change the plot of a televison show in favor of the PNP even though it is only a work of fiction.

“If it happens, what would prevent the President from asking the producers of Probinsyano to also change its plot which shows a corrupt and murderous president?” Macalintal said.

Macalintal cited an American television show, “House of Cards,” where the lead actor, Kevin Spacey, portrays the life of a homosexual Democrat President who resorted to violence and murder to achieve his ambition.

“We never heard of any Democrat leader or official of the US government complaining about the plot and story involved in the House of Cards,” he said.

Macalintal said the DILG and PNP should leave “Ang Probinsyano” alone and let it entertain the Filipino people.

“Let it go as it is and let the Filipino people enjoy a wholesome entertainment where the family members could learn the true value of heroism and dedication and integrity in public service,” he added. /cbb