Gov’t not told McDonald’s will use Marawi video in advert

Government officials said on Friday they had been unaware that the videos of war-torn Marawi City and its evacuees with TV personality Atom Araullo would be used for the advertisement of fast food chain McDonald’s. 

Parties planning to shoot similar material should coordinate with the authorities and consider the “sensitivities” involved, said Philippine Information Agency Director General Harold Clavite. 

The advertisement, promoting McDonald’s participation in National Breakfast Day, showed Araullo interviewing mothers from the city. McDonald’s said the video was “done in good faith.”

In a statement, it said: “While our production team had also reached out to the City Administration to secure permits, we apologize for any misunderstanding, miscommunication and missed steps on the process and protocol of Task Force Bangon Marawi.” –WITH A REPORT FROM LEILA B. SALAVERRIA