After Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Delapuz Lim informed Film Development Council of the Philippines Chair Liza Dino in a letter dated July 21 that they have withdrawn her appointment as member of the Executive Committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), comes FDCP’s response.

Recall that in Lim’s letter to Dino, he alleged that “as early as 2016,” Dino “made efforts to transfer management of MMFF from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)” and that “you have not given up on your dream to take over the chairmanship of MMFF and to take it away from MMDA and is actively pursuing the same.”  

He further claimed Dino also “directly accused MMFF of being involved in controversies.”

These were among reasons MMDA believes Dino’s members “is no longer tenable as your actions are inimical to MMFF and reek of conflict of interest,” part of the letter read.

On July 24, Bulletin Entertainment obtained a copy of FDCP’s official statement on the matter.

FDCP said that last July 20 the Facebook page of MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago "accused" FDCP of "lobbying to be in charge of MMFF" and posted images of FDCP's position papers submitted in 2017 to the Office of the Executive Secretary regarding MMFF.

FDCP claimed that the next day, they immediately sent a letter to MMDA requesting clarifications on the MMDA Spokesperson's post.

"In the letter, FDCP explained that (a) the document was a 2017 position paper of FDCP which was forwarded to the MMFF for comments and position, (b) in a setting in October 2017, the MMFF Executive Committee discussed the documents as one of the agenda. And (c) since then up to this date, no further actions were made by any of these parties on the matter. In fact, FDCP accepted subsequent invitations to be part of the Executive Committee after 2017 in support of the Philippine Film Industry," the statement read.

Two days later, FDCP received a letter from MMDA Chairman informing FDCP Chairperson Liza of her removal from the MMFF Executive Committee.

"As this was the first official communications that was received from the Chairman about this matter, FDCP has reached out to MMDA for further clarification on their statements reflected in their letter," they said.

"As far as FDCP is concerned, in the last meetings conducted by the MMFF Executive Committee which FDCP attended and even with the FDCP Board to Trustees where MMDA is also permanent member, none of the issues raised in the letter have been officially taken up. Hence, the confusion of the Agency."

FDCP said they’ll be releasing a more detailed statement after a meeting with MMDA. (With report from Stephanie Bernardino)