Dan Fernandez asks for House probe into ‘Honor Thy Father’ DQ issue
MANILA, Philippines – Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez on Monday filed a resolution directing a House panel to conduct a probe on the disqualification of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Honor thy Father” from the best picture category selection.
Fernandez, one of the actors in the film top-billed and co-produced by actor John Lloyd Cruz and directed by Erik Matti, is ordering the House committee on Metro Manila Development chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo to conduct an inquiry once the Congress resumes its session on January 18.
The movie’s producer, Ronald “Dondon” Stephen Monteverde of Reality Entertainment received a letter from MMFF overall chair Emerson Carlos stating that the film was disqualified from the film fest's Best Picture category "due to your non-disclosure of your participation to the Cinema One Originals Film Festival as the opening film and after careful and thorough deliberation.” The letter was dated December 25.
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Fernandez defended the film in his resolution saying "Honor Thy Father" was a late entry to the annual film festival.
He also explained that Monterverde earlier committed to the Cinema One invitation prior to receiving and accepting the slot in the MMFF in October.
Fernandez added that Monteverde duly informed the MMFF executive committee about the prior acceptance in the Cinema One film festival and submitted a sworn statement to the committee stating that the screening did not generate revenues and was a “by invitation” event only.
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