The upcoming war action film, Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told, and its stars–Paolo Gumabao, Rico Barrera, Aljur Abrenica, and others are facing raps for illegally using the Special Action Force (SAF) uniform and insignia.
The Philippine National Police filed the complaint against the use of the film on the said items without consent from the law agency.
Atty. Ferdie Topacio {the producer} aired his frustration during the film’s media conference at Pandan Asian Cafe, Sct.Limbaga St., Quezon City, on September 5.
“Ngayon pa lang may humaharang na. Alam niyo nakakalungkot. Eto nakakatawa na sabihin ko sa inyo ha. Noong una very cooperative ‘yung SAF. Si General Empiso yung hepe. Noong nagpalit, alam niyo ang ginawa? Dinemanda pa kami ng SAF mismo , ha!
“(This early, somebody’s already hindering us. You know what’s sad? SAF was very cooperative before, back when General Empiso was the one heading it. But when he left and a new leadership took over, SAF itself, filed a case against our film),” Topacio shared.
The celebrity lawyer couldn’t seem to wrap his head around such a misfortune, as the film actually intends to glorify the elite police force.
“Yung film namun ay para I-glorify yung kabanihan ng SAF. Dinemanda kami ng SAF! Alam nyo kung ano ang demanda? Illegal use of uniform and insignia. Ipinakita namin sa kanila doon sa piskalya . Eto may permiso kami kay Gen. Empiso. Ano ba ‘yang mga pinagsasabi niyo? Hindi niyo yata alam ang ginagawa ninyo?
“(Our film is about glorifying the SAF, but SAF, itself, filed charges against us! You know what the charge is about? Illegal use of uniform and insignia! We showed them our permit from General Empiso. I asked them: what are you talking about? It seems you guys fon’t know what you are doing).”
Topacio shared that the case is still ongoing and that Gumabao, Barrera, and other stars are all saddened and frustrated after receiving the bad news.
“Hindi sila natutuwa. Anyway, I’m protecting them. I gave them lawyers,” Topacio told in an interview.
Topacio is notably one of the lawyers who handled the SAF 44 case, which he said why he is very emotional about the doing the film.
“This is a project close to me because ako ‘yung abogado ng mga magulang ng SAF 44” he said.
The lawyer said he has reached to Viva Films and set to meet with Vic del Rosario to discuss the distribution of the film.
