#FDCPScandal
Nanindigan si Liza Diño na dumaan sa tamang proseso ang ginawang Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Ito ang sagot ni Liza sa alegasyong naging daan ang Revised IRR para imaniobra niya umano ang "powers and functions" ng FDCP sa huling bahagi ng kanyang termino bilang chair nito.
Nagpadala ang PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ng mga katanungan kay Liza tungkol sa isyu noong Martes, May 16, 2023.
Ngayong Huwebes, May 18, inilathala ng PEP.ph ang reklamo ng ilang film industry insiders sa pag-implementa ng FDCP ng rules na sa tingin nila'y labas sa mandato ng film council.
Tinutulan ng film industry stakeholders at film workers ang pagkilos ng FDCP bilang animo'y isang "regulatory body."
Ang Part 1 ng PEP.ph Special Report, na inilathala ngayong 12:15 p.m., ay may titulong: ":#FDCPISSUE NO. 1: Insiders troubled by ex-chair Liza Diño's "solo control" of millions for filmfests, events, grants
Ang Part 2 ng PEP Special Report, na inilathala ng 3:00 p.m., ay may titulong "#FDCPISSUE NO. 2: Liza Diño reprimaned by Tito Sotto for messing with rules and regulations
Ngayong Huwebes din ng hapon, 1:42 p.m., natanggap ng PEP.ph ang sagot ni Liza sa aming May 16 e-mail, na inilalabas din ng PEP.ph sa araw na ito.
Si Liza ay kasalukuyang nasa Cannes, France, para sa 76th Cannes Film Festival.
Pinabulaanan niya ang mga inirereklamong "irregularities" sa Revised IRR ng FDCP.
Pahayag ni Liza:
"Our monthly Board Meeting with the council members have minutes of the meeting that reflect the timeline about all the discussions about the IRR and the decision of the Council to agree on revising the IRR.
"This process took us more than one year and followed the requirements to update such regulations.
"As it was validly approved by a majority vote, the IRR was published."
Naniniwala si Liza na walang mali sa pag-akto ng FDCP bilang "consultative and advisory body" para sa lahat ng bagay — kabilang ang pagpapatupad ng batas — na may kinalaman sa film industry.
Paliwanag niya: "The FDCP is a National Government Agency.
"Policy requires consultation, and this has always been what we have done not just with stakeholders in the industry but with other government agencies as well.
"FDCP is also regularly called on by members of the Congress to consult on all pending legislative measures concerning the industry."
Wala rin daw mali sa Revised IRR na nagsasabing maaaring magbuo ng database ang FDCP kunsaan nakalista ang lahat ng filmmakers at existing projects ng mga ito "in all stages of productions and exhibitions."
Dagdag pa niya: "The FDCP was planning to have a website just like the one in Korea (who we partnered with) where we can promote different films that are currently being produced.
"Having a list also helps the agency to create strategies and keep track of the progress of the projects to provide support to them.
"Having a directory also allows the agency to create a comprehensive annual report about the film industry."
Bilang halimbawa, ibinigay ni Liza sa PEP.ph ang link sa website ng Korean Film Council, kunsaan makikita ang directory ng filmmakers at film companies, pati na rin listahan ng ongoing productions.
Iyon daw sana ang peg ng FDCP para sa gusto nitong buuing database.
Diin pa ni Liza, may legal basis ang Revised IRR.
Taliwas raw ito sa reklamo sa kanya na labas sa mandato ng FDCP ang ilang probisyon sa Revised IRR.
"Additionally, we have a letter from the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the President's Chief Legal Counsel that validated the contents of the IRR and the process by which it was approved and released."
ON HER ALLEGED "ONE-WOMAN RULE"
Ayon pa kay Liza, umiral ang kapangyarihan ng Council pagdating sa lahat ng desisyon ng FDCP noon.
Binanggit ni Liza ang Board Members ng FDCP.
Ito ay sina Rafaelita Aldaba (Department of Trade and Industry), Teddy Co/Roland Tolentino (National Commission for Culture and the Arts), Chris Millado/Mae (Cultural Center of the Philippines), Veronica Hitosis (League of Cities of the Philippines).
Kasama rin sa Board sina Leo Martinez/Vivian Velez (Film Academy of the Philippines), Atty. Rochelle Ona (Metro Manila Development Authority), at June Arvin Gudoy (Department of Education).
Sabi ni Liza sa PEP.ph: "...feel free to ask the council members of FDCP to verify the process by which the body consults and approves on all matters concerning the Agency."
Dagdag pa niya:
"You may ask them about our policy and program initiatives when they served as Board Members during my time and all of the meetings have recorded minutes."
Hindi naman ipinaliwanag ni Liza kung bakit binago sa Revised IRR ang depinisyon para sa salitang Council, at bakit ginawang ang "chairperson" ang kinatawan ng Council sa halip na tukuyin ang kabuuang grupo ng mga miyembro ng Board nito.
ON CONFLICT WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
Sinagot din ni Liza ang matinding hidwaan sa pagitan ng FDCP at asosasyon ng mga negosyanteng nagmamay-ari ng mga sinehan sa bansa, o mas kilala bilang Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, Inc. (CEAP).
Aminado si Liza na umabot sa demandahan ang Memorandum Circular (MC) ng FDCP para sa theater owners noong 2019.
"The release of the Memorandum Circular was a result of a series of dialogues that FDCP moderated between the Producers Association and the exhibitors (theater owners from CEAP themselves).
"After the release of the MC, CEAP filed a case against the Agency, and this was already dealt with in the Regional Trial Court where the Office of the Solicitor General represented the Agency where there is already a final decision.
"You may refer to the public court records about our arguments as to the legal basis of FDCP’s release of the MC."
Base sa ulat ng PEP.ph noong December 2021, dismayado si Liza nang hindi payagan ng korte ang FDCP na ipatupad ang Memorandum Circular para sa theater owners.
Katuwiran noon ni Liza, iyon sana ang sagot sa reklamo ng ibang producers sa pag-alagwa ng ipinapalabas na foreign films sa bansa, habang ang Filipino films ay madalas na agad na napu-pull out sa mga sinehan kapag kakaunti ang kita.
READ: Liza Diño "disappointed" at junked FDCP memo regulating screenings of cinema owners
Sa hiwalay na ulat ng PEP.ph noong November 2021, nakasaad sa resolution ng korte na walang "legal force and effect" ang Memorandum Circular.
Wala raw probisyon sa batas na nagpapakitang saklaw ng FDCP ang regulation ng film screenings ng cinema exhibitors.
READ: Quezon City court declares FDCP film screening rules "constitutionally invalid"