Charles Teves
Despite its commercial success, Gerard Butler’s successful action-thriller movie, ‘Plane’ has been criticized by some Philippine senators for its unfavorable depiction of the country.
‘Plane’ is a movie that follows the story of Brodie Torrance, a commercial pilot portrayed by Butler, whose plane crashes in Jolo, a town in Sulu, Mindanao. The passengers on board are then taken hostage by extremists.
According to the movie’s summary, Brodie Torrance performs a dangerous landing on an island amid war to protect his passengers from a lightning strike. However, his troubles are far from over as he soon discovers that a group of dangerous rebels has taken the passengers hostage. Torrance finds an unlikely ally in Louis Gaspare, who the FBI transports after being accused of murder. To save the passengers, Torrance must rely on Gaspare’s help and learns that there’s more to Gaspare than he initially thought.
Senator Robin Padilla, who was previously an action star before entering politics, has called on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to prohibit the screening of the movie in the country.
Padilla pointed out that the movie’s plot suggests that the rebels on the island have intimidated Philippine authorities.
The senator said, “They went down somewhere in the Jolo island cluster. It’s run by separatists and militias. The Filipino armies were not there anymore.”
Netizens disagree with Padilla.
May we remind the senator that the 90s Robin Padilla was a drug addicted menace to soceity. Baka gawa yan ng effect ng physical torture. Nagbago lang yan at tumuwid ang landas nung nakulong at nagkaroon ng religious conversion. Yan nakatulong syo hindi torture. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/UuVMjIpIAk
— Your Daily Dose (@SaltAndReality) February 16, 2023
When digong apparently ordered thousands killed, you didn't say it gives a bad reputation to the country, right Mr. Senator?
— Aldwin Salig (@AldwinSalig) February 15, 2023
Mr Robin Padilla, why not condemn the movies like Maid in Malacañang and Martyr or Murderer instead.,obviously may mali at masama sa movies na gawa ni D Yap.
— RiRi (@aehraicitel) February 16, 2023
Jusmio! Robin, may i remind u na mga Pinoise din ang mga kontrabidang masasamang loob sa mga pelikulang pinagbibidahan mo noon. Kaya wag kami! Tae ka!
— Chiqui Figueroa MD (@chiquiFmd) February 15, 2023
Eh yung reputasyon kaya ng mga Pulis sa mga pelikula mo na ipinoportray na laging huli, kabilang sa sindikato at di maasahan, ano kayang masasabi ni Sir Robin.
— kaMangyan (@yerleoj_00019) February 16, 2023
Sino ang mga extremists? Kasama NPA? https://t.co/JviaqOhkPJ
— supernegatrona AKA pink 5 (@supernegatrona) February 15, 2023
pabida na nmn itong si Robin Padilla matagal ng sira ang imahe ng Phil magmula pa kay Marcos Sr nasa list ang Pilipinas sa One of the most corrupt Country.
— JustMe Julia (@JustMe80041125) February 16, 2023
Unfortunately, for you it looks bad, but according to the world, that's how our country look to other nations. You're part of the blame. And there's more things they say about the Philippines. You might have a fit if I told you.
— cay (@migscay) February 15, 2023
As a result of Padilla’s call to action, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri proposed passing a resolution that denounces the movie’s depiction of the Philippines.
Senator Bato dela Rosa, originally from Davao in Mindanao, expressed his disapproval of the movie. He stated that he was thoroughly displeased with the negative portrayal of his home province.
Dela Rosa shared, “According to Gerard Butler, they crash landed somewhere in Davao in the Southern Philippines before they were able to determine their exact location, which was Jolo. It really painted a bad image of our country. You won’t find a place in Davao where you will find rebels who just chop heads off without apparent reason, beheading foreigners.”
Abu Sayyaf, a militant extremist network notorious for carrying out terrorist attacks throughout the Philippines, has been reported to be active in the Sulu archipelago. However, the International Crisis Group has stated that the group’s control of the area has decreased following the military’s successful elimination of its leaders and members.
