Repost: PNP Orders Withdrawal of Support for 'Ang Probinsyano'

Image courtesy of www.news.abs-cbn.com

Source: www.news.abs-cbn.com

The leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered all of its units to withdraw support for the hit TV series "Ang Probinsyano."

In a memorandum issued Friday, all PNP offices and personnel were told to stop assisting and providing resources to the production team of the hit series.

"All units, offices, and personnel are advised to immediately refrain from assisting, to withdraw their support to the production of the said teleserye in terms of PNP resources like patrol cars, firearms, personnel, venues, and other items and gadgets being used in the teleserye," Police Community Relations Director Eduardo Garado said.

The development comes following concerns from PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde regarding the alleged negative portrayal of some policemen in the Coco Martin-starrer.

Garado, in the memorandum, said producers of the show promised 

during a dialogue with the police force and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board last Oct. 17 and 23 to "make the necessary corrections on the issues raised by the PNP in a week's time."

"Ang Probinsyano" producers allegedly did not make any "visible correction" and instead continued with its "daily wrongful portrayal of PNP Officers as corrupt and ineffective," Garado said.

"While our PNP legal officers are studying our legal options, there is a need to immediately withdraw the PNP's assistance, if there is any, in the production of the teleserye," Garado said.

ABS-CBN earlier assured the PNP that elements of the series are "purely fictitious as stated in the disclaimer aired at the start of the show every night."

"There is no intention to smear the reputation of any organization or portray any person in a negative light," ABS-CBN said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Friday meanwhile said it is considering filing charges against the show's producers if they continue "with their grossly unfair and inaccurate portrayal of our police force."