Former Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Liza Diño came into the defense of Senator Robin Padilla after the latter pushed to ban the Hollywood movie Plane which depicts a negative image of the Philippines.

The actor-turned-politician wanted the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban the film for its description of Jolo as "run by separatists and militia" and as a place where "Filipino armies weren't there anymore."

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“Napakasakit po. Nakikiusap po tayo sa ating MTRCB na sana po sa mga ganitong ganap kumakatok tayo sa opisina nila, 'di po dapat ito pinapalabas sa Pilipinas. Dito po dapat sa ating bansa ipinagbabawal ito at kino-condemn po natin ito," the senator said. 

Liza shared that she understands where the senator is coming from as he is both a Muslim and a public official of the country.

“Naiiintindihan ko ang sentimyento ng ating senador. Of course, you always want to portray the Philippines in a positive light. Of course, we want to highlight the beauty of the Philippines. As much as possible, ganun ang gusto nating mangyari,” she said.

“We should understand din where the senator is coming from because he is a Muslim and baka 'yun ang portrayal doon. Hindi natin pwedeng i-generalize na ganoon ang experience ng lahat. For me, if I watch it, I'll take it as a story,” she continued.

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The former FDCP chair added that MTRCB could step in if the film was shot in the country. Media sources have shared that the Hollywood film was not filmed in the country but in Puerto Rico instead.

"If we gave incentives and they shot the movie here, we have the right to say 'Ay hindi pwede 'yung lines. You're shooting in our country and benefiting from our funds, you might want to revisit that line and look for other ways na nandun pa rin ang point,’” she shared.

Liza said in the same interview with TeleRadyo that viewers could have different insights on the film that they watch.

“Personally kung ako ang makakapanood noon, as a viewer alam ko na nanonood ako ng fiction e. Hindi rin natin pwedeng sabihan na, we cannot impose our experience sa experience ng iba. That's why it's film. It is a very personal experience. Once you put it out there, it is open to different assessment or experience ng mga iba't ibang taong nanonood,” she added. 

She noted that the MTRCB cannot just ban a film as it will “curtail the creativity of the filmmakers in being imaginative.”