Tinawag ng Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) ang pansin ng executive committee ng Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) dahil sa diumano'y animal cruelty na ipinakita sa pelikulang Oro.
Sa liham na ipinadala ng PAWS sa MMFF, nakasaad dito ang hiling nilang imbestigahan ang nangyari sa eksena kung saan isang aso ang kinatay.
Nakasaad sa naturang liham: “A few days ago, our organization communicated with Shandii Bacolod, producer of the film, who initially said no animal was harmed or killed for the movie.
“Later on, on the Official Facebook Page of the film, Director Alvin Yapan stated that the crew 'shot a practice among ruralfolk where dogs are part of their foodfare.'
“Killing dogs for their meat is a violation of the Animal Welfare Act or RA8485, as amended by RA 10631.
“In the said national law, even the killing of dogs as part of religious ritual or ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communitites shall be done with proper coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Committee on Animal Welfare (CAW).”
Sinubukan ng awtor ng artikulong itong kunin ang pahayag ng mga taong bumubuo ng Oro tungkol sa isyu, subalit hindi pa rin ito sumasagot sa aming private message sa kanilang Facebook page.
Samantala, nakakuha naman ng pahayag ang PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) mula sa MMFF Execom, sa pamamagitan ni MMFF spokesperson na si Noel Ferrer.
Ipinatawag na raw ng komite ang filmmakers at Team Oro para linawin ang isyung inilahad ng PAWS.
“Even before receiving the letter from PAWS, the MMFF EXECOM has already called on the filmmakers and Team Oro for a clarificatory meeting, inquiry and dialogue.
“Since PAWS has officially brought the matter (re: violation of the animal welfare law) to our attention, we shall be both on this issue and thus, a meeting is set on Monday, January 2, 11am at the Office of the MMDA Chair.
“We in the MMFF EXECOM reiterate that we will not condone such acts nor allow the Festival to be the vehicle for such actions.
“Happy New Year and see you all on Monday.”
REACTIONS. Tila hindi rin naging maganda ang dating ng nasabing eksena sa ilang mga nakanood nito, base sa ilang Twitter posts tungkol sa pelikula.
We were really bothered about the scene where they killed a dog. Pls assure us that no animals were harmed#Oro #MMFF #GabiNgParangal2016
— ann millendez (@annmillendez) December 29, 2016
Was a dog really killed in the making of the fim ORO? If so, please DO NOT WATCH THE FILM
— T ? (@cafelattey) December 30, 2016
Oh, producers and director of "Oro," is it true? I heard you really gutted and killed a dog for a scene. Please tell me it's not true. ????
— Gang Capati (@gangbadoy) December 30, 2016
So the filmmakers of "#Oro" actually did kill a dog for a scene. You think that makes you creative? Nope. You're just sick thugs. #mmff
— Aaarghpy New Year (@DarwinAwardsPH) December 30, 2016
Isang netizen naman ang nagtanong din sa Facebook page ng Oro tungkol sa nasabing eksena.
Ang sagot ng administrator ng Facebook page nila: “The dog was not killed for the purposes of the film. We shot a practice among the ruralfolk where dogs are part of their foodfare.”
Did they? If so, i am not watching this film. Actually killing a dog JUST for a movie?? this needs explaining...#Oro https://t.co/hCbMVRgJRS
— MrsHan (@MoxieLi) December 31, 2016
I keep seeing complaints about animal cruelty in Oro. And yes, it's bad. I hated that scene. There is no valid excuse for killing a dog.
— neko chen (@timesandspaces) December 31, 2016
Kagaya ng mga netizen, nadismaya rin umano si Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Dino nang mapanood niya ang eksena sa Oro bago pa man ito ipalabas sa MMFF.
Kinuha rin daw niya ang atensiyon ng mga nasa likod ng Oro, ngunit siniguro raw sa kanyang hindi aso ang ginamit sa eksena.
“They said NO---A goat was used and some prosthetics to make it look real.
“I was somehow appeased, and was also being careful about crossing the line (artistic calls of the director) so I didn't push the issue.
“As long as may assurance na walang pinatay na totoong aso, subjective na if the scene should be deleted, changed or replaced.
“Paulit-ulit kaming nagtanong, they said magaling lang ang pagkakagawa kaya nagmukhang totoo.”
Samantala, nanatiling bukas ang PEP.ph sa anumang pahayag na nais iparating ng mga taong bahagi sa paglikha ng pelikulang Oro.