'Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence' heads into final two episodes
By Neil Ramos
At A Glance
- "Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence" enters its final two episodes after surpassing one million views, with Jane Oineza's character Yana Macabeo facing a major choice in Episode 5.
“Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence” is heading into its final two episodes after surpassing one million cumulative views on YouTube.
Episode 5 follows police officer Yana Macabeo, played by Jane Oineza, as she faces a decision that could change the course of her investigation.
Yana discovers a connection between Kiko’s death and a case from her own past. The discovery puts her in a difficult position: remain loyal to the police institution she has served for years or risk everything to save Fr. Tom, played by Ian Veneracion.
Her dilemma also reflects how far the character has come since the beginning of the series.
Yana started out as a police officer who believed in the government's anti-drug campaign. As she digs deeper into the case, however, she encounters people and evidence that force her to question what she has always believed about the institution she serves.
The series, directed by Shugo Praico, has used Yana's investigation to look at the people caught up in the country's drug war, rather than treating the issue simply as a police-versus-criminal story.
For Praico, the point was to bring those experiences closer to viewers.
“We want to reach as many people as possible. We want them to realize that these kind of things do happen and that it could also happen to any of us,” he said.
The series has also drawn attention from groups that work on human rights issues. The Ateneo Human Rights Center has emphasized the importance of stories that focus on the experiences of individuals and families affected by such issues.
With two episodes left, Yana's investigation is moving toward its conclusion. Episode 5 will determine how far she is willing to go when following orders begins to conflict with what she believes is right.
“Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence” streams for free on Rein Entertainment's YouTube channel, with Episode 5 premiering Thursday at 8 p.m.