Whatever happened to creative freedom?
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and television network ABS-CBN today signed a memorandum of agreement which states that the PNP will allow the latter to use its uniform, vehicles, and facilities when shooting its top-rated TV show Ang Probinsyano.
Philippine Star reported that the PNP, however, had one condition: the show should not tarnish its image. Oof.
The signing of the agreement was done after a discussion among the show’s director and lead actor Coco Martin, ABS-CBN’s Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, and top officials of the PNP led by its chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, reported ABS-CBN News.
WATCH: PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde now at the Camp Crame flag raising ceremony. pic.twitter.com/jCe7dXaGM3
— Raffy Sison Santos (@raffsantos) November 25, 2018
Previously, Albayalde slammed the show for what he said was its unfair portrayal of the police force. But it seemed that he had already forgiven and forgotten, judging by the warm smile he gave Martin during today’s meeting, as shown in the video tweeted by ABS-CBN reporter Raffy Santos.
The signing of the agreement, however, became the butt of jokes for more than a few netizens across the country. A post by someone under the FB name Trilling Donggi said: “Restore the old image of policemen who arrive only when the crime has ended and [show them] to have huge tummies.”
The poster is referring to some people’s perception that the PNP moves slow and that many of its members are pot-bellied.
Kram Louie wrote: “[If that’s the case,] you shouldn’t report news about policemen who get involved in various crimes.”
Vincent Calvero joked: “[The PNP is saying] ‘Don’t ruin our image so that we could still commit crimes.'”
Prince Sarip joked: “They just wanted to have their photo taken with Cardo (Martin) that’s why they created this controversy.”
For those who haven’t yet seen the show, Ang Probinsyano (literally “The Man from the Province”) is about a noble cop named Cardo Dalisay who grew up in the provinces, and is later assigned to Manila, where the PNP is composed mostly of corrupt cops.
It’s been on-air since 2015 and continues to perform far better than its competitors.
