Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — The US film “Plane” has been pulled out from local cinemas by its distributor, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said.
“The particular film is not going to be exhibited because the distributor voluntarily pulled out the film already from the cinemas,” MTRCB chair Lala Sotto-Antonio told reporters on Thursday.
“It will not be exhibited anymore,” she said.
On the same day, the Senate Committees on Public Information and Mass Media and Games and Amusement led a joint hearing into the mandate of the MTRCB. Senator Robin Padilla presided over the hearing.
Padilla, in a manifestation before the Senate plenary last Feb. 15, called on the MTRCB to ban the film from cinemas because of its depiction of the country. Senate President Miguel Zubiri echoed Padilla’s sentiments.
In response, the film body said they would re-evaluate the movie to determine whether or not it was “injurious to the prestige of the Philippines or its people.”
READ: MTRCB to re-evaluate US film ‘Plane’ after Padilla plea
In the film, the pilot protagonist played by Gerard Butler is forced to land a commercial plane on Jolo island, Sulu province where the characters face off against local rebels.
The film described the area as one without government control, and “run by separatists and militia.”
It is distributed by Lionsgate Films and directed by Jean-Francois Richet.
