The Metro Manila Film Festival organizer on Wednesday rejected the accusations of Film Academy of the Philippines director and actress Vivian Velez on the alleged non-payment of their share of the receipts from the annual festival.
Velez said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority failed to release some P82.7 million worth of proceeds from the screenings in previous years following the complaint filed by then FAP director Leo Martinez in 2014.
The MMDA supervises the MMFF while its chairman Danilo Lim is the concurrent head and organizer of the annual event.
Velez said Martinez had filed a case against the MMDA in January 2014 with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for the release of the share, but “nothing happened to the case.”
MMFF legal chief Vic Trinidad said the case, which was filed in 2014, was archived for the failure of the FAP to prosecute the case.
“Contrary to the claim of Ms. Velez, the issue was never raised or discussed with the management of MMFF,” Trinidad said.
He said what Velez constantly followed up was the release of the FAP’s share in the income.
“Instead of going to the press to pursue her claim she should have initiated the revival of FAP’s case so that she can prove her allegations in the proper forum,” Trinidad said.
He said under Chairman Lim’s administration, 100 percent of the Collected Amusement Taxes were released to the beneficiaries and no government funds were used in the operation of the MMFF.
“For the last three years under this administration all issues hounding MMFF every year were addressed. Thus, it is disheartening to hear malicious imputations from a beneficiary whose only participation in the MMFF is to receive money from the management of MMFF. Including the Executive Committee, worked hard for,” Trinidad said.
The MMFF beneficiaries include the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc., Motion Picture and Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Optical Media Board.