MMFF temporarily stops “Oro” screening in cinemas

Oro (Photo from Oro’s official Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines—When the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial award was pulled out from the “Oro” movie, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) also temporarily stopped the screening of the film in cinemas due to the alleged dog slaughtering scene.

The MMFF was asked by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to stop the screening of the film because of the controversy, as they also knew that there was an actual animal killing.

“Whether or not the dog slaughter scene was intentionally staged or a dog was coincidentally slaughtered at the location of the movie, the fact remains that the killing was illegal,” Peta-Asia said in an interview.

“Instead of watching a dog die slowly and after being beaten to death in front of their cameras, this crime could and should have been prevented,” the group added.

In an exclusive interview in ANC with Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson and MMFF committee member Liza Diño, she said in a statement last Wednesday, January 4, an order was given until they resume the screening of the movie.

The production team must give the edited version of the film and the scene where the killing of the dog shall be deleted.

Senator Grace Poe, daughter of the late Fernando Poe Jr., called the attention of the MMFF organizers to investigate on the said scene last Monday.

“I call on the MMFF organizers to look into the matter of whether a dog was actually butchered as part of the filming of the movie Oro in violation of the existing law on animal welfare,” Poe said.

However, the production team of “Oro” stayed strong with their statement that they didn’t do the actual killing of an animal for the film’s purpose.

“There was a designated townsfolk who performed the ritual. That person supposedly knows how to kill the dog the least harmful or painful way,” Dino said.

“They said that they are just documenting a cultural practice held in that part of Bicol where dogs are eaten as food. One of the arguments there was that was it premeditated or was it just documented?” she added.

Dino said that regarding this matter, the one in-charge in filing of the case was the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) since the complaint wasn’t under the MMFF’s requirements.

The “Oro” production team remained cooperative as they comply with the agreement.