Liza Dino tinanggal bilang miyembro ng MMFF execom; MMDA may hinaing

MAGDIRIWANG ng ika-45th year ngayong 2020 ang Metro Manila Film Festival na itinatag noong 1975.

Sa loob ng maraming taon ay palaging successful ang taunang festival kahit maraming kinakaharap na kontrobersya at suportado pa rin ito ng movie producers, directors at mga artista.

Kaya under ng Metro Manila Development Authority ang MMFF ay dahil wine-waive ng Metro Manila mayors ang tax ng filmfest para malaki ang malikom nitong kita na ibinabahagi sa mga beneficiaries nito, kasama na ang Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) na pinamamahalaan ni Liza Dino.

Taong 2016 daw ay sumulat si Ms. Dino sa Malakanyang para i-transfer ang pamumuno ng MMFF sa FDCP.  Hindi maganda ang dating nito sa namumunong si Mr. Danilo Lim dahil lumalabas na hindi nagpaalam sa kanya ang una gayung miyembro siya ng komite.

Ilang taon ang pinalipas at ngayong 2020 ay pormal nang tinanggal si Ms. Dino sa MMFF bilang miyembro ng Execom. Narito ang official statement ng MMFF na nilagdaan ni Mr. Lim.

“Dear Ms. Dino,

“We write in connection with your membership in the Executive Committee of the Metro Manila Filn Festival (MMFF).

“As early as 2016, you already make efforts to transfer management of MMFF from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

“You even wrote a letter to Malacañang asking for extension of festival period for MMFF and to transfer chairmanship of MMFF from the undersigned to you.  You even directly accused MMFF of being involved n the controversies, an institution to which you supposedly belong and as a member of the Executive Committee should be defending.

“Recent events and information coming to our office MMFF and to take it away from MMDA and is actively pursuing the same.

“We honestly believe therefore that your membership in the Executive Committee is no longer tenable as your actions are inimical to MMFF and to reek of conflict of interest.

“We regret not your removal from MMFF but rather that is has cone this far.  After your first botched attempt to transfer administration of MMFF to you and your office, we were expecting you to resign out of delicadeza.

“For this reason, we would like to inform you that we have decided to withdraw your appointment as a member of the Executive Committee.”

Nagpadala kami ng mensahe kay Ms. Dino sa kanyang Facebook messenger pero hindi pa niya ito nakikita kaya wala pa kaming maibibigay na reaskyon niya.

Nagpalabas din ng official statement ang Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines o CEAP bilang pagsuporta sa MMFF.

“Over the past decades, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been made into a tradition by millions of Filipinos during Christmas time.  It is a much anticipated event, not only by the Filipino movie-goers but also by the cinema exhibitors and local producers and film makers

“The Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) would like to reiterate our full support to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in conducting the MMFF.

“We applaud the planning and implementation of the MMDA in ensuring the success of the MMFF year-on-year. Most importantly, unlike some Film Festivals, CEAP recognizes and appreciates the efforts of the MMDA in encouraging transparency and collaboraton within the MMFF Executive Committee members by involving all relevant stakeholders.

“CEAP firmly believes that success speaks for itself and with that, we are confident that the MMFF, with MMDA as its helm, will continue to be a big contributor in the promotion and growth of the Filipino movie industry.”