Julia Montes admits her role in the Richard Somes-directed film, Topakk, of a woman being hunted by a corrupt police death squad behind a drug cartel, was physically and mentally challenging.

“Ibang makatrabaho si direk Richard (Working with direk Richard is a different experience),” she mused during the media huddle for the movie Wednesday, 4 December.

Montes feels her character is empowering as, “ito ang film na iba naman ang tingin sa babae (this is a film that looks at women in a different light).”

“Ang babae this time, lalaban. Ang babae, hindi lang maghihintay ng tulong kundi lalaban din lalo na sa taong mahal niya. Iyon ‘yung ibang experience na naiparamdam sa akin ni direk Richard (Woman, this time, will fight. She will not wait for help, but she will fight for the one she loves. That’s how different director Richard made me feel),” she explained.

While shooting, Montes felt the stench and filth of her environment.

“While doing this, kung dumi, dumi. Kung sapakan, sapakan. If tama ang pagkakaalala ko, eight hours straight na fight scenes ang ginawa namin (if it was dirt, it was dirt. If there was hitting, there was hitting. If I remember correctly, we did eight hours of fight scenes).”

But Montes is far from complaining.

“Iyon ang masarap sa shoot na ito. Kapag napanood n’yo naman, talagang hindi mo iindahin ‘yung dumi, ‘yung tagal, ‘yung pagod. Lahat ‘yun kasi worth it kapag napanood ninyo (That’s the beauty of this shoot. When you see it, you will not worry about dirt, about the time, the tiredness. Everything is worth it once you’ve watched it).

Starring Arjo Atayde in the lead role, Topakk is produced by Nathan Studios, Fusee and Strawdogs. It also stars Sid Lucero, Enchong Dee, Kokoy de Santos, Bernard Palanca, Paolo Paraiso and many more.  It is one of the official entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival this year.

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‘Even cheaters have human rights’ — Atty. Jesus Falcis

A well-known lawyer, Atty. Jesus Falcis, posted a lengthy message on his Facebook account, his take on the controversial posting of Jamella Villanueva, Anthony Jennings’ ex-girlfriend who dragged Maris Racal into their breakup.

Titled “THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE CASE OF MARIS RACAL AND ANTHONY JENNINGS,” Atty. Falcis initially said he has handled cases like that of Jennings and Villanueva.

“Even before screenshots of text or chat messages between Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings were leaked today, many people — especially those who were cheated on — have always asked me before about the legality of posting and sharing screenshots of private conversations,” he wrote.

“I have always told them that there is such a thing called as the right to privacy. Even cheaters have human rights,” he added.

He explained that “The National Privacy Commission clarified in a 2020 advisory opinion that the Data Privacy Act applies to screenshots if they reveal the identities of those involved: It is worthy to note that the processing, i.e. sending out the screenshot to another person, will only come under the scope of the DPA if personal data is indeed involved —if the conversation/screenshot itself allows for the identification of the parties. If it is simply the content of the conversation, with names and other identities redacted or cropped out of the screenshot, it might not be within the scope of the DPA.”

“So even if you were the victim of cheating, by posting screenshots of any alleged affair, not only are you exposing yourself to cyberlibel charges but also to charges for violating data privacy — which is punishable by stiffer and harsher penalties than cyberlibel,” he stressed.

“And while the Supreme Court just recently said that there is no violation of the right to privacy if screenshots are used in a criminal case, that is the caveat — the screenshots must be used in a criminal case,” he further explained.

To best drive home his legal point, he said: “So what’s a girl to do? Well, you should still take screenshots as evidence of cheating or an affair (especially if you’re married). Then, what you should do is instead of posting on social media is to file a VAW (violence against women) case —psychological violence caused by infidelity.”

“And if you’re a public figure or celebrity, let the media report or cover it — then you’ll get the publicity you wanted anyway without the legal liabilities for cyberlibel and data privacy,” he said.

“Cheating is bad. But so is misogyny, enabled by violating the right to privacy. Victims have human rights. But vindicating your rights should not make more victims,” he stressed, reiterating that “even cheaters have human rights.”