OTWOL: No offense meant to PNP

MANILA, Philippines – ABS-CBN’s On the Wings of Love (OTWOL) issued an apology over a scene on the primetime teleserye’s Jan. 11 episode that saw its lead actor James Reid wearing a police uniform while doing a striptease.

In the scene, James’ character Clark did the lap dance during the bridal shower for his love interest Leah played by Nadine Lustre.

“On the Wings of Love would like to apologize for a short scene that aired last Monday (Jan. 11), which unfortunately showed the main character Clark dancing as a policeman for Leah in her bridal shower. The program has called the attention of its production team and assures the public that there was no intention to disrespect the sanctity of the Philippine National Police (PNP) uniform. We do not want to jeopardize our good relations with the PNP and will make sure that it will not happen again,” read the full statement furnished to the media last Wednesday. 

The apology came after the scene drew flak online from members of the Philippine police force. In its official Twitter account, the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) asked if the scene in question underwent any consultation.

Responding to a netizen’s comment that the scene was “not degrading at all” and there were more negative portrayals of the police in other shows and in the movies, the PCRG said, “We are trying hard to fix the image of the PNP … and the traditional media can help us so much by wearing the uniform properly and with pride.”

The PCRG also appealed to all networks to carefully review TV scenes before they are aired. “Sana lang po lahat ng inilalabas sa TV ay nire-review ng maayos tulad ng paggamit ng tama sa uniporme. May batas po tayo dyan. (We just hope all scenes aired on TV are reviewed thoroughly such as the proper use of police uniforms. We have a law for that).”

“Please be reminded of Article 179,” it also said, referring to Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code which provides penalties for any “person that publicly and improperly makes use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person.”

“We should respect authority uniforms like the PNP,” the PCRG stressed.