MANILA, Philippines — Ian Veneracion leads the ensemble cast of Rein Entertainment’s upcoming crime action series “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence.” He plays Father Tom Carillo, a priest who finds himself in the middle of the chaos, conflicts and moral complexities surrounding the country’s war on drugs.
From the makers of the award-winning “Bagman,” the series is inspired by true events that happened during the Philippine war on drugs — a key campaign promise of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte — which both gripped the nation and gained global attention. Produced by Lino Cayetano, Philip King, and Arlene Cuevas, and written and directed by Shugo Praico, it also stars Romnick Sarmenta, Jane Oineza, Lotlot de Leon, Yayo Aguila, Harvey Bautista, Ryan Eigenmann, Joem Bascon, and Volpi Cup Best Actor John Arcilla in a special appearance.
At the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) held over the weekend at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence” became the only Filipino content showcased on the main stage of the event. The STAR and other Filipino press outlets were given a sneak peek of the pilot episode of the series slated for release in 2025. Now on its 25th year, the ATF is considered the region’s leading international content market for buying, selling, financing, distribution and co-production.
Though there have been congressional hearings on EJK and drug war, the producers clarified that the series steers away from the polarizing politics or political debates on it, choosing instead to focus the narrative on the lives that have been caught in the crossfire and have become collateral damage.
The official synopsis reads: “‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence’ follows Father Tom Carillo, a once-privileged priest who’s lost everything, as he teams up with a guilt-ridden cop, Yana Macabeo (Jane Oineza).
“Together, they fight to expose a deadly conspiracy shrouding the truth behind the mysterious death of Kiko Agustin (Harvey Bautista), a former protégé of Tom’s. As they uncover dark secrets from the drug war in the Philippines, Tom must confront his own past apathy to seek redemption and bring justice for a life lost too soon.”
For the main star, Ian took on the project — his second with Rein Entertainment after “Nanahimik Ang Gabi” — because the material also resonates on a deeply personal level.
“I think most of us know someone who knows someone who has been, you know, part of that, the stories there,” Ian shared during a Q&A session at the ATF.
“Of course, this project has a lot of different layers, the social aspects of it. But for me, as a Filipino, I’m not really interested in political personalities. I’m interested in policies that have to be put in place, (policies) that are lacking.
“And I think for me, as an actor, I had to take this because it’s a very painful story to tell, and it is the story of my people, of our people.”
He also elaborated on his character, Father Tom, saying: “He’s from a privileged background and is a parish priest in a province. He runs a rehabilitation center in the community and encounters this problem… And so it’s very challenging. But I’m also very excited about it.”
The series was shot in contrasting locations — Caliraya Lake’s serene setting and Manila’s gritty slums, where, according to Ian, “real stories took place.” Portraying a priest allowed him to see, particularly the latter set location, from a different lens.
“As Father Tom, I saw the longing for hope of the people there, the spiritual thirst. It breaks my heart sometimes,” Ian recounted. He shared a moment where he noticed medals hanging in a poor family’s home, triggering emotions he wouldn’t have accessed as himself.
“It was downloading that part of me ‘na di ko pa na-touch before. (When I saw) yung mga nakasabit na medals, it’s like you’ve unlocked this universe or ocean of emotions that you can only unlock from those kinds of perceptions ‘pag ibang tao ka. But if you just continue being you, you’ll only have access to the emotions that you feel you have access to.”
The seasoned actor compared this to his role as a corrupt police chief in “Nanahimik ang Gabi,” saying, “If I went there as that character, I would have seen entry points, exit points. But as Father Tom, I saw something else entirely.
“And you can’t go through a character without the emotional journey of the character that you play. So ako, na-excite ako kasi naramdaman ko yung lahat na naramdaman ni Father Tom Carillo at medyo masakit at mabigat.”
One of the most challenging scenes he has filmed so far was a eulogy. He couldn’t rehearse the lines because “I would choke up.” “I had to request if I could just say the lines during the take,” he admitted.
Playing a priest wasn’t about presenting an idealized figure but exploring the human side, particularly his internal struggles.
“Hindi yung facade niya in front of the people… I wanted to get into his faith, which is shaken because of things happening. Kinukwestyon niya, totoo ba, paninindigan ko ba to? The human side of this, I’m more interested in that — more than just the costume, the habits and the rituals. Gusto ko yung sa loob na nangyayari sa kanya,” said Ian who follows an intuitive approach to acting. “I’m not about analyzing things. I go through the emotions and let’s see what happens.”
For him, acting also offers a respite from being himself. “Pardon my vocabulary, but it’s a complete mindf**k. You’re the one manipulating your mind, but you’re also the one being manipulated. I love it because I get to rest from being myself. I’m so tired of being myself,” he joked.
With over four decades in the industry, Ian continues to find joy in self-discovery through the craft. “I started my career when I was five or six years old, and I’m turning 50 next year. Up to now, I’m still discovering things,” he said.
He credited the late director Peque Gallaga for introducing him to the craft side of acting during the film “Hiwaga sa Balete Drive,” where he worked alongside greats like Charito Solis, Gina Alajar and Joel Torre.
“I was a 13 year old kid. Alam mo sa utak ko talaga, what am I doing here? Nakikita ko may process (sila). Because of course, they’re masters of their craft. Then with me, I’m just winging it, you know. Like I didn’t know the homework, that was how I felt. So we had workshops… nakita ko yun pala craft side ng actor.
“I thought the celebrity side is what you aim for. Yun pala that’s just baloney. You wanna be there for the craft, tell stories and stuff like that. It becomes a self-discovery thing, and you never stop discovering and even now, every day when we shoot.”