In a recent social media post, television actor Benjamin Alves confirmed that he is playing the role initially offered to Rocco Nacino in the upcoming GMA afternoon soap titled, Artikulo 247.
“Excited to be working with this team for the first time,” he said in his caption.
The series, which will be under the helm of director Jorron Monroy, is a crime drama about a woman who is fighting for justice. It also features Rhian Ramos, Jackie Rice, and Mark Herras.
Rocco, who was part of the initial cast members had to be pulled out to serve as replacement for Derek Ramsay in another upcoming Kapuso show called To Have and To Hold opposite Carla Abellana and Max Collins. Due to this, Benjamin, whose last regular program was the recently-concluded Owe My Love (with Lovi Poe) was picked to take Rocco’s place. Incidentally, the latter had a special participation in the said primetime offering.
For the record, this is not the first incident that Benjamin replaced Rocco in a project. This happened a few years back in the hit afternoon soap Dahil sa Pag-ibig, which also starred Sanya Lopez. During that time, Rocco had to be pulled out from the said show because the management opted to place him in the popular Pinoy adaptation of Descendants of the Sun, which was top-billed by Dingdong Dantes and Jennylyn Mercado.
Interestingly, Artikulo 247 serves as a reunion project for some of the lead performers. In the case of Rhian and Jackie, it can be remembered that they highlighted the hit 2010 fantasy series Ilumina, while Rhian and Mark starred in the 2007 boob tube adaptation of the Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion potboiler My Only Love.
