JERRY OLEA
Kinansela ang premiere ng investigative documentary na Lost Sabungeros sa 20th Cinemalaya filmfest noong Agosto 2024 dahil sa “security reasons.”
Read: Docu film Lost Sabungeros, kanselado ang screening sa Cinemalaya
Natuloy ang screenings ng Lost Sabungeros noong Nobyembre 2024 sa QCinema filmfest.
Read: Lost Sabungeros director thanks QCinema for showing canceled docu
Ang nasabing documentary ay produced ng GMA Public Affairs, na gumawa ng updated version nito.
Naka-pin sa Facebook page ng GMA Public Affairs: “NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE. NEW REVELATIONS. LOST SABUNGEROS: THE COMPLETE STORY.
“Matapos ipalabas sa QCinema noong 2024, may mga bagong testigo at ebidensyang lumitaw sa kaso ng mga nawawalang sabungero.
“Kasalukuyang hinahanap si Atong Ang, na itinuturong mastermind sa pagkawala ng mga sabungero. Samantala, ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima, patuloy na sumisigaw ng hustisya.
“Hindi tumigil ang imbestigasyon.
“Patuloy na tinutukan ng docu-film ang mga bagong pangyayari.
“Inihahandog ng GMA Pictures at GMA Public Affairs ang BAGONG TRAILER ng LOST SABUNGEROS.
“Dahil patuloy ang paghahanap sa katotohanan…”
Read: Arrest warrant issued vs Atong Ang over missing sabungeros case
MTRCB STATEMENT ON LOST SABUNGEROS
Ngayong Marso 6, Biyernes, ay naglabas ang Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) ng clarification kaugnay sa Lost Sabungeros.
Ang kabuuan ng kanilang press release: “The MTRCB clarifies that the film Lost Sabungeros, was not rejected nor denied review. Instead, the producers were asked to submit the documentary requirements needed for the Board to properly evaluate the film.
“One of these requirements was a certification confirming that the subject matter of the material is not the subject of any pending case before the courts.
“The Board said this is necessary to comply with the sub judice rule, which prohibits the public discussion or presentation of matters that are currently under judicial consideration.
“The requirement is consistent with the mandate of the Board under Presidential Decree No. 1986, which authorizes the MTRCB to review motion pictures and ensure that materials presented for public exhibition comply with existing laws.
“Under Section 3(c) of the decree, the law explicitly provides that the MTRCB is mandated: ‘to approve or disapprove… xxx (vii) Those which may constitute contempt of court or of any quasi-judicial tribunal, or pertain to matter which are sub-judice in nature.’
“According to the MTRCB, the production was unable to submit the required certification.
“In fact, in a letter dated Feb. 12, 2026, to the MTRCB, Lost Sabungeros director Kristoffer J. Brazil acknowledged the Board’s requirement for such certification.
“Until the necessary document is provided, the Board said it cannot continue with the review process. It is therefore incorrect to state that the MTRCB twice denied review of the film.”
Read: MTRCB: Kakampi o kalaban ng entertainment industry?
GORGY RULA
Inilabas ni Miss Nessa S. Valdellon ngayong Marso 6, Biyernes, ang kabuuan ng liham ng MTRCB na may petsang Pebrero 19, 2026, at pirmado ni MTRCB Chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto.
Si Miss Nessa ay senior vice president ng GMA Public Affairs.
GMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXEC ON MTRCB
Facebook post ni Miss Nessa: “To the MTRCB Chair and those who read the MTRCB statement about The Lost Sabungeros this morning: I truly have no wish to be disrespectful nor answer via a statement through our public sites.
“Would just like to remind you that your very own office sent out communications to us last February with this specific line: ‘The Board finds no sufficient basis to disturb or reconsider its prior determination in DECLINING TO REVIEW AND CLASSIFY the above mentioned film.’
“From your own words, you declined to review The Lost Sabungeros a second time.
“We are going the school route so that more people can see the new/complete version of the documentary. Thank you.”
Read: MTRCB 40th anniversary: Highlights and sidelights
NOEL FERRER
The unfolding exchange between the MTRCB and GMA Public Affairs regarding the film Lost Sabungeros highlights a critical tension between regulatory procedure and the urgent need for public discourse on significant societal issues.
While acknowledging the MTRCB's mandate and the importance of legal due process, the objective is also to facilitate the public's access to a relevant and insightful cinematic works like Lost Sabungeros, by all accounts, which can serve as an invaluable eye opener to Filipinos on issues involving our society.
Regardless of whether this is termed a "rejection" or a "declined review," the practical outcome is the same: a film deemed highly relevant and impactful remains inaccessible through traditional channels. It is imperative that a more proactive and collaborative approach be adopted.
While legal considerations are valid, the MTRCB, as an institution meant to guide and classify films for public consumption, should explore avenues to facilitate solutions in partnership with GMA Pictures.
The creative industry has a vital role in reflecting and dissecting societal challenges, and when a film directly addresses these, its journey to the audience should be smoothed, not complicated.
The move by GMA Pictures to pursue a "school route" for the documentary is a testament to its perceived importance and the producers' commitment to reaching an audience.
However, relying solely on such alternative distribution limits its reach considerably. A film with the potential to spark meaningful national conversation deserves the broadest possible platform, an opportunity which Cinemalaya passed off too!
Therefore, we hope that the MTRCB and GMA Pictures find a pragmatic path forward and this includes, but is not limited to, open dialogue with the filmmakers to jointly address any legal concerns without sacrificing the film's timely release.
The cultural and social value of Lost Sabungeros to the Filipino people, in fostering critical thinking and awareness, far outweighs the benefits of a protracted bureaucratic stalemate.
We urge all parties to prioritize the public good and ensure this vital film reaches the wider audience it clearly deserves.
Read: Directors Guild, tinutulan ang MTRCB Act: "NO TO CENSORSHIP!"