AiAi delas Alas camp condemns persona non grata QC resolution: It ‘endangers protection granted by freedom of expression’

The camp of AiAi delas Alas has condemned the Quezon City resolution declaring her persona non grata for supposedly disrespecting the city’s official seal in a social media video.

In a statement, lawyer Charo Rejuso-Munsayac said the decision was harmful to artists who wished to express themselves.

“We strongly condemn this act of the Quezon City Council which endangers the protection granted by the freedom of expression for artists, entertainers, content creators, and comedians who use satire or parody to express sentiments or criticize public acts or figures,” said their statement.

It added that the social media video was “clearly a satire, a parody.”

“It is not intended to be a statement of fact and is clearly not meant to (be) taken seriously by the audience,” it said. “The video was obviously intended to be watched and taken as a whole, all elements being fictitious, including the seal behind the character portrayed by my client.”

The actress’ camp said it was “unfortunate that the city council is nitpicking to find basis to curb freedom of expression in the guide of defending a perceived dishonor.”

On Tuesday, outgoing District IV Councilor Ivy Lagman filed a resolution banning Delas Alas and director Darryl Yap for their “malicious and unscrupulous defacing” of Quezon City’s seal on the video, which was posted on Yap’s Vincentiments Facebook page.

Yap, meanwhile, said he would also be releasing a statement on the issue. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News