Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun has said that the animated film “Abominable” should be banned from Philippine movie houses for the “negative bearing on our integrity as a country and nation.”
“The movie ‘Abominable’ should be banned, or if it’s already showing in our movie houses, immediately stopped,” said Fortun, a member of the House Minority Bloc.
“Amid calls to boycott the movie, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board cannot just stand on the sidelines, and instead, proactively address what could mislead our children, even adults, into believing a foreign country’s claim prejudicial to our national interest to be true and controlling,” added the Mindanao lawmaker.
Made by Dreamworks, “Abominable” became controversial after it depicted in one of its scenes a map showing China’s nine-dash line over the South China Sea. The nine-dash line is the basis of China’s territorial claim in the South China Sea, which reaches the coastline of neighboring countries.
Vietnam, one of the countries contesting China’s expansive maritime claims, has pulled the movie from its theaters because of this.
“Aside from the disinformation and confusion it can create, Abominable’s showing on Philippine soil will also have a negative bearing on our integrity as a country and nation,” reckoned Fortun.
“No less than our Foreign Affairs Secretary has called for its boycott. So, why not just ban it? The MTRCB can very well do that consistent with its mandate.” (Ellson Quismorio)
