‘Batang Quiapo’ showrunners to visit Comelec after 'factual error' in scene

Coco Martin, as Tanggol, in a scene on “Batang Quiapo”. Screengrab from ABS-CBN Entertainment / YouTube

MANILA, Philippines — The producers of popular TV series “FPJ’s Ang Batang Quiapo” will pay a courtesy visit to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following a factual error in one of its scenes as pointed out by an election lawyer.

Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia on Monday said “Batang Quiapo” showrunners will visit the poll body’s headquarters on Thursday regarding their March 5 episode.

“They will come here on Thursday, and they also plan on talking with the commission,” Garcia said in an ambush interview at the Palacio del Gobernador.

‘Batang Quiapo’ showrunners to visit Comelec after 'factual error' in scene

In its March 5 episode, a confrontation scene was unfolding between the fictional “Manila mayor,” played by Albert Martinez, and his “vice mayor,” portrayed by Chanda Romero, after the latter supposedly engaged in premature campaigning.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that there is no such thing as premature campaigning since technically there are no official candidates yet before the filing of certificate of candidacy are filed. Thus, it could not be considered an election offense.

“While the characters are fictional, the laws are not,” Garcia told reporters. “But for us, we want to express that, while it may be fictional, but we hope that at least, to avoid misinformation that millions of their viewers might believe, it should be corrected.”

“We hope our discussions with them on Thursday will be productive,” he further said.

No less than election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who run as senator in the 2022 elections, slammed the show for such inaccuracy.

“It is the responsibility of ‘Batang Quiapo’ producers to see to it that its viewers get the right and correct information about our election rules so as not to cause any confusion among the electorate on such an important and sensitive issue and other election-related matters,” Macalintal said in a statement on Sunday.

Macalintal’s statement came on the heels of an “It’s Showtime” segment contestant’s tour of the Comelec headquarters after getting flak from viewers when she admitted to having limited knowledge about the poll body.

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The 20-year-old contestant appeared on the “Sexy Babe” segment of “It’s Showtime” on Feb. 28, in which Vice Ganda, the show’s host, showed incredulity when she admitted that she does not know about Comelec, and that she has not voted yet in the local or national polls.

Taken aback by this, said, “Oh my gosh, that is bothersome.”