A colonel answering back a general who gave him orders. A three-star Army general leading an operation against car thieves. Military officers sporting long hair while slugging it out with Muslim rebels.
These are some of the inaccurate and unrealistic portrayals
of soldiers in television shows and films that create wrong impressions about
the military.
Since many of these movies and shows were huge hits, the
erroneous yet largely unchallenged depictions of soldiers were absorbed by huge
audiences.
To address this problem, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) have
signed an agreement that seeks to promote the heroism of soldiers while
ensuring their accurate depiction in the media.
The agreement was signed by AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang
Jr. and MTRCB chairperson Eugenio Villareal last Monday in Camp Aguinaldo
Under the agreement, MTRCB will collaborate with the
military by undertaking “public information and education initiatives of
correct depiction and portrayal of AFP.” The AFP Civil Relations Service will
also be invited to the MTRCB’s Matalinong Panonood (intelligent viewing)
seminar.
The MTRCB will also assist the AFP Civil Relations Service
in its public information and community projects by making available resource
persons and educational materials.
AFP civil relations service chief Brig. Gen. Joselito
Kakilala said they want movies and television shows to portray soldiers in
proper uniform and haircut.
“If soldiers are in proper uniform, the image of discipline
and professionalism will be maintained,” Kakilala said in a phone interview
yesterday.
“This will help promote the image of the AFP,” he added.
Kakilala said the agreement also aims to encourage the movie
and television industry to consult military experts.
He clarified that the agreement does not constitute prior
restraint and would not censor movies or shows that portray military officers
as villains.
“As long as they will not try to discredit the AFP as an
institution, we don’t have any problem with that. They can portray individuals
as villains. It really depends on the story line,” he said.
Aside from ensuring the proper portrayal of soldiers, the
agreement also encourages filmmakers and television networks to disseminate the
heroic acts of the men in uniform.
“We want to encourage the networks to show stories of
heroism. We will also ask the cinemas to show snippets of soldiers’ heroism,”
Kakilala said.
The military is working to bring its soldiers closer to
local communities amid persistent allegations of human rights abuses. Officials
have repeatedly claimed that abusive practices are not tolerated in the armed
forces.
http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/04/28/1448926/no-more-kontrabida-soldiers-afp-mtrcb-ink-deal-proper-portrayal
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