Coco Martin, cast of Batang Quiapo pay Catapang a visit

The executives and cast of the television series "Ang Batang Quiapo" paid a courtesy call yesterday to officials of the Bureau of Corrections after the latter protested numerous scenes being depicted in the said series which pose significant concerns to officials and employees of the agency.

ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes, Mark Lapid, and actor Coco Martin met with BuCor officials and apologized to the bureau, assuring them that they did not intend to besmirch the reputation of the institution and its officials.

Lapid asked Bucor officials to at least give them until December to make an adjustment.

Martin, for his part, told BuCor officials, "Kaya po kami nandito ngayon para personal po na humingi ng paumanhin pero wala po kaming intensyon na manira or makasakit. Huwag po kayong mag alala at lahat naman po ng yan ay bina-balanse natin."

"I just hope that in the end, and as always, good will triumph against evil. I look forward to seeing those characters who are playing villains in your series will be exposed and persecuted or redeem themselves to show to the public that crime does not pay and the long arm of the law will catch up for those who disregarded it," BuCor Director-General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.

According to Catapang, the meeting was requested by executives and cast of "Ang Batang Quiapo" after the BuCor, through the deputy director general for administration, Atty. Al Perreras, wrote them a letter that he received insistent clamor from BuCor officials and employees, who had seen the program and called their attention to the misleading concepts about the bureau as portrayed in the said TV series and requested the people behind the show to immediately refrain from depicting scenes that malign the reputation of the agency and its employees.

While the show makes use of a different agency appellation, it cannot be helped but notice that the same makes a clear and undeniable reference to the National Penitentiary, which this bureau represents; and hence, may affect or influence the perceptions of the viewers about the agency, Perreras said.

Catapang also added that although there is a disclaimer at the start of the program; however, "we still take offense on the fact that due to the very close association, borne of said depictions, the same will be generally injurious to the image of the BuCor especially in these times that our head, Director-General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. is in the midst of an organizational cleansing to genuinely reform BuCor."

The BuCor cited the scenes involving a visual and perceptive representation of the national penitentiary, more particularly on the following:

• September 22 Episode Scene: PDL named "BONG", portrayed by Mr. Vandolph Quizon, and actors playing Officers conspired to kill a certain Congressman through the instruction of "Chief Espinas" played by Ms. Jacqueline Jose, portraying the Head of the "Corrections Agency".

• September 27 Episode Scene: PDL Bong was already given instruction and was ordered to kill the congressman

• October 03 Episode Scene: PDL Bong got out of the cell to execute the job with the knowledge of Chief Espinas

• October 09 Episode (Teaser) Scene: PDL "Tanggol" portrayed by Coco Martin was ordered to do the killing of the congressman, he will get out of his cell purportedly to carry out the task.

• There are also scenes wherein actors posing as Corrections Officers were wearing uniforms that were consistently identical to the uniforms being worn by BuCor Commissioned and Non-Commissioned officers.