By Aaron Recuenco
While he continues to command huge following among Pinoy fans in the past three years, the quasi-immortal cop Cardo Dalisay is seemingly starting to lose his appeal to the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
On Wednesday, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde disclosed that they are planning to meet with the people behind the action-packed hit series ‘Ang Probinsyano’ over what he describes as a noticeable bad portrayal of policemen.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde
(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We will be writing both the production outfit and the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review Classification Board). We want to probably have an audience and probably kung hindi man nila matigil yun e mabago man lang yung pagpoportray sa PNP,” said Albayalde.
What Albayalde is protesting is the portrayal of the Chief PNP, Director General Alejandro Terante (played by Soliman Cruz) in the teleserye as corrupt and brutal police official who use all the resources of the national police force to destroy the vigilante group Vendetta led by Coco Martin and former senator Lito Lapid as Romulo “Leon” Dumaguit.
While he joked that the Chief PNP in the “Ang Probinsyano’ is way different from him due to hairstyle, Albayalde said the portrayal of the Chief PNP and the police are no longer fair.
He said that even some people are already commenting through the message system of the PNP in the social media and other communication platforms about the portrayal of the Chief PNP as a villain.
“Masyadong hindi na pangkaraniwan na nangyayari and it gives us a bad impression actually. It's a bit unfair sa PNP when you portray yung mga ganung activity that doesn't really happen sa organization naming,” said Albayalde.
“It's very disturbing and para kasing ang nakikita ng mga tao na parang instant yung justice, parang it's okay. It's not. We are a nation of laws not of men,” he added.
This the reason, according to Albayalde, why the PNP leadership wants to clear things up with the production outfit of ‘Ang Probinsiyano’.
He said that he had already consulted the plan with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, and in fact, has already sent a letter to the MTRCB in September this year.
THE PRESIDENT TOO
Albayalde said even the portrayal of the President of the Philippines in the teleserye, played by veteran actor Edu Manzano, is unfair.
In fact even the president there naapektuhan e. In fact, even the Office of the President naapektuhan,” said Albayalde.
“Masyadong hindi na pangkaraniwan na nangyayari and it gives us a bad impression actually,” he added.
Manzano plays the role of President Lucas Cabrera who became very abusive and vindictive after he stole the presidency from President Oscar Hidalgo played by actor-director Rowell Santiago.
It was then Vice President Cabrera who masterminded the attempt to wipe out the entire family of President Hidalgo using Terante, with the promise that the latter would become the Chief PNP.
In the teleserye, President Cabrera has an abusive and spoiled brat son played by Mark Anthony Fernandez.
NOT REAL
Albayalde said that the PNP has no history of having a Chief PNP with a villainous character.
“Yung the Chief PNP himself is a villain hindi naman po siguro kailanman nangyari sa amin. In reality, well hindi pwedeng mangyari yan,” said Albayalde.
“Let's be realistic, kung yan ay isang teleserye na pwedeng mangyari sa pang-araw-araw natin na buhay medyo malayo naman yung Chief PNP himself na siya ang kontrabidang lumalabas besides doon sa sinabi ko nga na masyadong makapal yung buhok niya,” added Albayalde.
SUPPORTIVE
The PNP has been very supportive of the ‘Ang Probinsyano’ before.
In fact, some of the scenes were shot inside Camp Crame and using Camp Crame facilities. Some policemen were even included in the taping.
This is not the first time the PNP had cried foul over bad portrayal in movies and teleseryes.
In the past, some PNP Chiefs had made a request from various movie producers to uphold the dignity of the profession by doing away with characters and movie titles like Pulis Patola.
In the past years, the PNP has been very active in calling out movie producers and other production outfits about the proper use and wearing of uniforms.