Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Danilo Lim has removed the head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Liza Diño, from the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
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In a statement released on July 21, Lim alleged that Diño had been making efforts since 2016 to “take over the chairmanship” of the annual film festival which has been organized by the MMDA since 1994. The statement also claimed that Diño has “directly accused” the MMFF for “being involved in controversies” which conflicts with her duty to defend the festival as a part of the Execomm.
They then requested her to “resign out of delicadeza.”
It follows a Facebook post made by MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago wherein she shared an undated and unsigned document by the FDCP explaining why the management of the MMFF should be transferred to them.
“Taon taon na lang natin pinag uusapan ito Chair Dino, ang MMFF nga po belongs to MMDA. Siguro piece of advice Madam, ayusin niyo po muna ang Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino bago po ninyo pag interesan ang MMFF,” Pialago wrote.
The FDCP then released a response to these two statements, saying that a proper hearing regarding the matter had not been conducted and that the document shared by spokesperson Pialago was a position paper submitted in 2017 to the Office of the Executive Secretary. They have requested a meeting with the MMDA and with Lim in order to clarify the issue and will release a more detailed follow-up statement afterward.
(ALSO READ: LOOK: Here’s What You Need to Know About the First Four Films of the MMFF 2020 )
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