TV producer bans stories on FPJ campaign ads

No one is allowed to do a feature story on the upcoming television campaign spot of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard-bearer, Fernando Poe Jr.

"The execom (executive committee) is not allowing anyone to do a feature story (on the campaign ad)," television producer Tony Tuviera told The STAR in a telephone interview yesterday afternoon.

Executive producer of Television and Productions Exponents Inc. (TAPE), which produces the noontime show "Eat Bulaga," Tuviera didn’t explain the ban on doing a feature on Poe’s campaign.

Presumably referring to the KNP executive committee, Tuviera also didn’t mention who in the group gave the order.

KNP media bureau chief Rod Reyes was equally surprised by Tuviera’s statement.

"I don’t know about that. I’m not aware of that," Reyes said in a slightly raised voice, indicating that he, too, was caught unawares by what Tuviera claimed to be an execom decision.

Reyes referred The STAR to Tuviera and gave the producer’s number after it was explained to the former press secretary that the paper was thinking of doing a story on the campaign ad’s director, Jun Urbano, better known to television viewers as Mr. Shoo-li of the defunct spoof show "Mongolian Barbecue."

Poe has been heavily criticized for letting representatives explain his platform of government.

He also refused to debate with other presidential candidates, casting doubts on his capacity to comprehend and offer solutions to the country’s pressing problems.

But over the weekend, Poe, dubbed by fans as "The King of Philippine Movies," announced that he will use music videos, or MTVs, to convey his platform.

It would be interesting to know how Urbano packaged Poe.

All that Tuviera would reveal in the brief interview was that Poe’s campaign ad would not actually be an MTV.

When asked to describe how it would differ from the television ads of President Arroyo, and other bets like Raul Roco and Panfilo Lacson, Tuviera could only say, "I don’t know, to be honest."

Tuviera said the campaign ad is already in the can and would air next week.

On a related note, the KNP has issued a statement that provides some context to Poe’s vague answers in a television interview last week.

On the show Impact 2004, hosted by STAR publisher Max Soliven, the KNP standard-bearer failed to give specifics on what he plans to achieve if elected president in May, limiting his answers to motherhood statements.

A Poe presidency would focus on returning the country to the rule of the law, licking corruption and practicing "leadership by example" as a way to win back the Filipino people’s "trust and confidence" not only in their government but also in themselves, the KNP statement, which quotes liberally from the interview, said.

It also quoted Poe as saying he will rely on experts to flesh out the details.

"May mga dalubhasa na magbibigay sa amin ng plataporma for the first 100 days (Policy experts are now working on a program for the first 100 days of my administration)," it quoted Poe as saying on television.