Erap DVD goes to Malacañang

The producer of the film on ousted President Joseph Estrada’s life story will appeal before the Office of the President today the "X" rating given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Former immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, representing the producer, said they are expecting the Office of the President, as the final appeals board, to take a second look at "Ang Mabuhay para sa Masa."

"We are expecting that President Arroyo will give the go signal for the showing of the film," he told The STAR.

Rodriguez said they are exhausting all legal and administrative means to have Estrada’s film shown on television and in movie houses.

"The film is dedicated to the masses, they must be given opportunity to see it," he said.

Earlier, Rodriguez and Rey David, the film’s producer, applied for permit at the Optical Media Board (OMB) for the mass production and free distribution of the film’s DVD version nationwide.

David intends to produce an initial 50,000 DVD copies for distribution, Rodriguez said.

Edu Manzano, OMB chairman, assured Rodriguez that the request will be processed, but that they must first send it back to the MTRCB for comment.

The MTRCB in two reviews said the film is not suited for public viewing because controversial scenes may undermine the faith and confidence of the people in the duly constituted authorities. — Perseus Echeminada