• Latest
  • Trending
Director of Netflix Philippine drug war drama Amo denies it glorifies narcotics crackdown

Director of Netflix Philippine drug war drama Amo denies it glorifies narcotics crackdown

April 9, 2018
How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank

How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank

January 11, 2021
How the Capitol riot exposed our national security blind spots

How the Capitol riot exposed our national security blind spots

January 11, 2021
‘Good riddance,’ says China as Germany leaves UN Security Council

‘Good riddance,’ says China as Germany leaves UN Security Council

December 23, 2020
Indonesian police needs reforms, urgently & not just in Papua

Indonesian police needs reforms, urgently & not just in Papua

December 13, 2020
Chinese honey trap operation?

Chinese honey trap operation?

December 11, 2020
Bali’s villa dream or just another nightmare?

Bali’s villa dream or just another nightmare?

December 5, 2020
When the going gets tough, the tough gets Ramen!

When the going gets tough, the tough gets Ramen!

November 28, 2020
Giuliani attends Pennsylvania GOP meeting on alleged election issues

Giuliani attends Pennsylvania GOP meeting on alleged election issues

November 28, 2020
Biden: ‘They are back’ !

Biden: ‘They are back’ !

November 28, 2020
Zac Efron splits from Vanessa Valladares

Zac Efron splits from Vanessa Valladares

November 28, 2020
Trump campaign cuts Sidney Powell from legal team

Trump campaign cuts Sidney Powell from legal team

November 23, 2020
Against ‘Unity’

Against ‘Unity’

November 16, 2020
citizendaily
  • Asia News
    • Northeast Asia
      • China
      • Japan
    • North Korea
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South Asia
      • Afghanistan
      • Bangladesh
      • India
      • Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
    • Latin America
      • Cuba
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
      • Gulf States
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Syria
    • North America
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Russian Federation
  • Economy
    • Brexit
    • Free Market
  • Politics
    • ASEAN
    • Diplomacy
    • ISIS
    • National Defence & Security
  • Editorial
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species
  • Lifestyle
    • Books & Literature
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Dining
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Tech
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Monday, January 18, 2021
  • Asia News
    • Northeast Asia
      • China
      • Japan
    • North Korea
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South Asia
      • Afghanistan
      • Bangladesh
      • India
      • Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
    • Latin America
      • Cuba
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
      • Gulf States
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Syria
    • North America
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Russian Federation
  • Economy
    • Brexit
    • Free Market
  • Politics
    • ASEAN
    • Diplomacy
    • ISIS
    • National Defence & Security
  • Editorial
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species
  • Lifestyle
    • Books & Literature
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Dining
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Tech
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
citizendaily
No Result
View All Result

Director of Netflix Philippine drug war drama Amo denies it glorifies narcotics crackdown

April 9, 2018
in Asia News, Featured, Philippines, Southeast Asia
0
Home Asia News

RelatedPosts

SCS : Indonesia on high alert after appearance of Chinese vessel

In Southeast Asia, COVID-19 Slowly Tightens Its Grip

Anti-China coalition: US wants to put a bridle on China in Southeast Asia?

Before the virus, Asia’s ecosystems were buckling under overtourism

Dengue fever in Southeast Asia is ‘exploding’ amid the coronavirus fight

Post Views: 404

 

The first ever Philippine production on the global streaming giant Netflix will debut on 9 April, in a gritty portrayal of the controversial and bloody war on drugs being waged by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The divisive crackdown against drugs, which has killed thousands of Filipinos since 2016, will be tackled in ‘Amo’, the story of Joseph, a high school student who starts out as a small-time meth pusher but gets caught up in a dangerous circle of drug lords, crooked police and corrupt officials.

The series itself may also prove controversial, with one human rights group already calling for it to be cancelled.

It’s acclaimed director, Brillante Mendoza, once praised by Hollywood royalty Quentin Tarantino for the “bold, daring” film that won him “best director” at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, is known for his confronting style of social realism.

He has faced previous censorship in his conservative majority Catholic homeland over the explicit nature of his work, and also been forced to deny accusations of “poverty porn.”

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Mendoza revealed a hint of apprehension about how his new series will be received.

“I have this feeling that because I am doing a series against illegal drugs that people are prejudging it,” he said.

“It will pass through different points of view, different perspectives, depending on the subject matter that we are dealing with,” he added.

“It will start with the young student because he is the lead character who is selling drugs but then he has a relative, an uncle who is a corrupt policeman, so we focus on him.”

The drugs war has been hugely contentious in the Philippines, and abroad. At home, Duterte’s uncompromising battle against drugs has won him plaudits, and his approval ratings have been persistently high, reaching 79% in January.

But he has faced stinging international criticism of his human rights record and threats of United Nations investigations into extrajudicial killings.

According to official statistics, about 4,000 Filipinos have been killed in a police campaign targeting drugs dealers and users since Mr Duterte came to power in mid-2016. Human rights groups have documented thousands more, executed on the streets by masked assassins.

At least one group – the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) – has called for the show to be cancelled, fearing that it will “actively promote” extrajudicial killings and violence.

“Glorifying President Duterte’s war on drugs is glorification of mass murder, killings and human rights abuses,” claimed INPUD executive director, Judy Chang.

Mr Mendoza denies these accusations. He said his production would not shy away from portraying police corruption and the horrific impact of both extrajudicial murder and the illegal drugs trade on impoverished Filipino families.

But he said he wanted to show the situation to a global audience from a more neutral standpoint, simply holding a mirror to the “true” situation in the Philippines, without taking sides.

“This series will show the two sides of the coin,” he said.

“The message is that we should all understand that there is a [drugs] situation in the Philippines… and now the government has really got very tough about it,” he explained.

“Of course this is a very delicate matter, this is not just your ordinary issue about human rights and corruption… People should realise that this [drugs] problem should be addressed,” Mr Mendoza added.

“I’m not saying that it should be addressed in the way that this government is dealing with it,” he said. “But people tend to criticise and to give their opinions without even going deeper into the issue.”

To some extent, the production will reflect Mr Mendoza’s own conflicting views. After his own family was affected by drugs, he said backed the president’s fight against the illegal trade.

A homeless woman sleeps in front of a government's "War on Drugs" campaign poster in Manila
r Mendoza believes Mr Duterte is often “misunderstood” and has directed his State of the Nation address to mixed reviews. But he denies that he is advocating “government propaganda.”

Mr Mendoza believes Mr Duterte is often “misunderstood” and has directed his State of the Nation address to mixed reviews. But he denies that he is advocating “government propaganda.”

“I am pro-life, I am anti-violence and I am anti-killing,” he said.

The violence of the drugs wars has been universally condemned by human rights groups. Mr Duterte’s “murderous drugs war” had “wreaked havoc on the poorest segments of society,” said Amnesty International’s Rawya Rageh, who co-wrote a report on extrajudicial killings.

“Overall police impunity remains rife and there does not seem to be a real shift in policy indicative of a public health-based approach that respects human rights and the rule of law.”

Mr Mendoza said he hoped his filmwork would achieve change. “That’s the ultimate goal and the ultimate ambition in my lifetime, that I will be able to achieve that,” he said.

“And if not, at least I tried, at least we tried… people should start doing something concrete, something progressive, something they could share, for the improvement for the lives of Filipinos and also for the Philippines.”

Source :
Telegraph
Tags: NetflixPhilippinesPhilippines drug warPresident Duterte’s war on drugs
Previous Post

Malaysian drug lord ‘AJ’ behind 700kg ‘Ice’ seizure in Hatyai – Thai Police

Next Post

Malaysia’s Mahathir Pledges to Review China Investment if Re-Elected

Related Posts

How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank
Commentary

How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank

January 11, 2021
How the Capitol riot exposed our national security blind spots
Bilateral

How the Capitol riot exposed our national security blind spots

January 11, 2021
‘Good riddance,’ says China as Germany leaves UN Security Council
Asia News

‘Good riddance,’ says China as Germany leaves UN Security Council

December 23, 2020
Indonesian police needs reforms, urgently & not just in Papua
ASEAN

Indonesian police needs reforms, urgently & not just in Papua

December 13, 2020
Chinese honey trap operation?
Asia News

Chinese honey trap operation?

December 11, 2020
Bali’s villa dream or just another nightmare?
ASEAN

Bali’s villa dream or just another nightmare?

December 5, 2020
Next Post
Malaysia’s Mahathir Pledges to Review China Investment if Re-Elected

Malaysia’s Mahathir Pledges to Review China Investment if Re-Elected

Translate

Subscription

Popular Post

How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank
Commentary

How Israel’s Likud Party played the long game toward annexation of the West Bank

January 11, 2021
0

  Washington (11/1).    Israel’s leaders know that they will face strong criticism from powerful voices if they proceed with...

Read more

NGOs call for mass boycott of palm oil giant IOI

June 29, 2016
No peace for Greenpeace

No peace for Greenpeace

July 1, 2016

The Case Against Greenpeace

July 1, 2016
Children in ISIS Nusantara Media Outreach

Children in ISIS Nusantara Media Outreach

July 2, 2016
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

citizendaily.news is part of the citizen Daily Media Group LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe. ​

© 2012 The Citizen Daily

No Result
View All Result
  • Asia News
    • Northeast Asia
      • China
      • Japan
    • North Korea
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South Asia
      • Afghanistan
      • Bangladesh
      • India
      • Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
  • World News
    • Africa
    • Europe
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
    • Latin America
      • Cuba
      • Mexico
    • Middle East
      • Gulf States
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Syria
    • North America
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Russian Federation
  • Economy
    • Brexit
    • Free Market
  • Politics
    • ASEAN
    • Diplomacy
    • ISIS
    • National Defence & Security
  • Editorial
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Forests
    • Water & Oceans
    • Wildlife & Endangered Species
  • Lifestyle
    • Books & Literature
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Dining
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Tech
  • Sports

© 2012 The Citizen Daily