AiAi Delas Alas, Darryl Yap declared personae non gratae in QC

The Quezon City (QC) government on Tuesday declared actress Ai-ai de las Alas and director Darryl Yap personae non gratae  for supposedly “disrespecting” the city’s official seal in one of their social media videos.

The development comes after the QC council adopted a resolution filed by outgoing District IV Councilor Ivy Lagman urging the local government to ban the two for their “malicious and unscrupulous defacing” of the seal in a video posted on Yap's Vincentiments Facebook Page, where Delas Alas played the character of  “Mayor Ligaya Delmonte.”

Prominently featured in the background is the official triangular seal of Quezon City, with its text altered to say “BBM” and “Sara.”

"The malicious and unscrupulous defacing of the official seal of Quezon City ridiculed and casted dishonor to it, causing insult to the noble representation of the seal,” said Lagman.

“The people of Quezon City will not let anyone disgrace the official seal of Quezon City for personal and selfish interests,” she added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Delas Alas’ camp for comment.

Yap, for his part, said he would address the issue.

“Bagamat ang deklarasyong 'PERSONA NON GRATA' ay isang Resolusyon at hindi Ordinansa; walang kaakibat na batas—hindi po natin ito babale-walain;
bibigyan natin ito ng pansin,” he said on Facebook.

Yap said he would issue a formal statement through a video series.

On Facebook, Lagman expressed hope the ban would make content creators “think twice” before posting anything on their social media pages. 

“Hindi naman basta-basta na lang po na pwede tayo magpost ng mga gusto natin na hindi man lang pinag-isipan mabuti kung ano ang mga laman ng mga pinalalabas natin sa mga tao,” she said.

(We cannot post something so carelessly without even thinking.)

“Kung ang freedom ofexpression mo ay hindi minsan nararapat—katulad ng pagsayaw mo habang pinapatugtog ang national anthem o ang pag gamit sa Philippine flag nang hindi tama, etc., huwag natin itong gawing laging rason para mambastos,” she added.

(If your freedom of expression is not rightful—for example, dancing while the National Anthem is being played or using the Philippine flag in appropriately. Let us not always use [freedom of expression] as a reason to be disrespectful.)

Further, Lagman clarified her move was not related to president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio, whom Yap and Delas Alas openly endorsed during the campaign period.

“Yes, you are  free to be expressive with your work, but not at the expense of something which QCitizens hold in high regard,” she said.

“Quezon City prides itself with many achievements and showcases itself through its distinct corporate seal, the triangle with the pylon of Quezon Memorial Circle. It is created based on the powers given to the city through its Charter, Commonwealth Act No. 502 and Section 22(a)(3) of the RA7160 or the Local Government Code,” said Lagman.

“Mahal po namin ang Quezon City at ang lokal na pamahalaan nito ay aming nirerespeto. Sana kayo rin,” she added.

(We love Quezon City and we respect its local government. We hope you do so too.) — with Franchesca Viernes/BM/KBK, GMA News