President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sees no problem with allowing the screening of the controversial “Barbie” movie in Philippine cinemas.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy)
Marcos called the movie a "work of fiction," which came as an agreement with the decision of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRBC) to allow the movie's commercial release.
“Siyempre, yung sinasabi nila yung kasama doon sa yung boundary line na ginawa. Ang sagot ko doon (What they are saying is that the boundary line was shown there. And my answer is): What do you expect? It’s a work of fiction,” Marcos said on the sidelines of his series of official engagements in Northern Samar on Friday, July 14.
The President made the statement after concerns over the supposed depiction of a map that shows China’s alleged territorial claims in the South China Sea through the so-called nine-dash line.
WATCH: President Marcos sees no problem in allowing the screening of Barbie movie in Philippine cinemas, which has been under fire for its depiction of 9-dash line.
— Betheena Unite (@MB_unite) July 14, 2023
Marcos says "it's a work of fiction." @manilabulletin 🎥PCO pic.twitter.com/zkMEkuPSZF
The MTRCB has allowed the screening of the movie after they found "no basis to ban the film 'Barbie' as there is no clear nor outright depiction of the nine-dash line in the subject film".
It added that the movie underwent two meticulous screenings, including with representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of the Solicitor General to "fully ascertain and determine if the said lines depict the nine-dash line".
Marcos was in Northern Samar to lead the inauguration of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project and the distribution of various government assistance to beneficiaries.