Makati RTC issues TRO vs Imelda biopic

Hours before the press preview of the controversial documentary on the life of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, a Makati City regional trial court issued yesterday afternoon a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the public exhibition of the film.

Judge Maria Cristina Cornejo issued a two-page order that prohibited the 6 p.m. press preview of "Imelda" at The Podium in Pasig City after Marcos posted a P100,000 bond to enjoin the respondents from proceeding with the preview.

The respondents named in the order were Unitel Productions Inc., Unitel Pictures Inc., represented by its president Antonio Gloria; and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) represented by its chairwoman, Ma. Consoliza Laguardia.

Marcos’ lawyer, Vic Alvaro, said his client "was very happy" with the court’s decision and was intently following up on the case. He said Marcos was at Branch 147 as early as 8:30 a.m. yesterday. An hour later, she proceeded to the MTRCB building to monitor the film screening and returned to the court in the afternoon.

Alvaro said since the TRO will last for 20 days, it will also affect the regular screening of the film, which runs for one hour and 43 minutes, that is supposed to start on July 7, five days after Marcos’ 75th birthday.

Marcos filed a petition for a TRO and preliminary injunction last June 16, claiming that the exhibition of the film will cause her extreme and irreparable injury and injustice. The hearing on the injunction is set on July 1.

Marcos alleged that filmmaker Ramona Diaz tricked her when she requested an interview some 10 years ago for her masteral thesis at Stanford University. She said she was surprised upon learning that the interview would be used in a film and shown publicly.

Diaz’s film has received worldwide acclaim and even won first prize for documentary cinematography at the recent Sundance Festival in Utah.