Philippines calls for ban on Hollywood film Plane for ‘tarnishing’ its tourism reputation
- Angry Philippine senators say the country isn’t filled with turbulence and neither are its officials cowards, as the film starring Gerard Butler seems to suggest
- This is not the first time Manila has targeted Hollywood. Last year, it pulled screenings of Uncharted over a scene showing a disputed map of the South China Sea
Philippine senators have denounced the Gerard Butler-starred Plane for characterising the country as violence-plagued, and are calling for a ban on the action film to safeguard its tourism sector.
“I condemn the film that tarnished the reputation of our motherland and urge the MTRCB (Philippine film regulator) to stop its screening in the country,” Padilla told the senate on Wednesday.
The actor-turned-politician added it was “very painful” to see the movie implying that our authorities were cowards and disappeared from the island fearing the rebels, broadcaster GMA News reported.
Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri echoed Padilla’s sentiments, saying the government should lodge a protest against the film as the plot was contrary to the ground reality.
“This [film] is really going to push us backwards in our tourism promotions again as it paints a wrong picture of the Philippines