ILOILO City – There was no need to change the storyline of popular television series “Ang Probinsyano” which caught the ire of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for depicting policemen as corrupt, according to the director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas.
“Ang Probinsyano”, aired daily on the ABS-CBN television channel, was a work of fiction, stressed Regional Director Anthony Nuyda.
Still, he said, it would be good to also feature the good side of the police.
The PNP’s Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier called out “Ang Probinsyano” for supposedly being “unfair” in its portrayal of the police force while DILG secretary Eduardo Año threatened to sue the producers if the television series’ storyline is not changed.
“Mayroon talagang pulis na hindi maayos at ina-address naman ng PNP ‘yon,” said Nuyda.
The director said he respected the storyline of “Ang Probinsyano” and did not see the need to modify it.
“Pero ‘yung paggamit ng PNP logo, etc. there’s a law on that,” said Nuyda.
Año had said the DILG was also taking issue with the show’s “use of the Philippine National Police’s name, logo, insignia and uniform.”
On Nov. 22 DILG officials and those of ABS-CBN had a dialogue and a joint statement was issued afterwards.
“The DILG, including its attached agency the Philippine National Police, will continue to support ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ as it continues to inspire Filipinos with the valuable lesson that in the end, good will always triumph over evil,” the statement read.
The statement said the PNP cited the importance of respect of its men while recognizing the program’s freedom to create and convey its story, while ABS-CBN assured that Coco Martin will continue to portray Cardo Dalisay as a good police officer.
DILG assistant secretary Jonathan Malaya earlier said the one-hour meeting was just about the two parties explaining their views to each other, and there was no mention of any changes to the plot of the primetime TV series.
“Walang sinabi ang ABS-CBN na, ‘Sige, babaguhin namin ang kuwento.’ Ipinaliwanag lang ang side ng DILG at PNP, ‘yong concern namin, at pinaliwanag din naman nila na wala silang intensiyong dungisan ang imahe ng kapulisan,” he said./PN