MANILA, Philippines — Over 300 film industry insiders released a statement on Thursday in response to an allegation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines that martial law films are being used to lure students to join communist rebels in an alleged plot to overthrow the Duterte administration.

“We, filmmakers, media workers, artists, cultural workers, academicians and other members of the film and artistic community, deplore the recent statements of the assistant deputy chief of staff for operations for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., who essentially accuses us and the organizations that sponsor film screenings on martial law of recruiting for the New People’s Army,” the film and media workers say in a statement.

According to the artists, the accusation “is red-baiting and slander of the worst kind.”

“It impinges on our right to freedom of expression, speech and assembly, and endangers us and our audience, especially in the context of the Duterte regime’s murderous anti-war and counter-insurgency campaigns and the President’s recent pronouncement that ‘rebels’ are now targets for ‘neutralization’ or can be arrested without warrant, despite constitutional guarantees against it.”

The artists maintain that their film screenings “provide an invaluable service to the youth, the students and the general audience, especially since our education system has largely failed in informing them about the systemic atrocities that happened during the martial law era. The screenings hope to provide them with knowledge and insight into that dark chapter in our history, especially since many of the actual perpetrators and beneficiaries of that fascist dictatorship have fully rehabilitated themselves back into mainstream politics and into positions of power.”

The artists uphold that the screenings help students “understand the roots of fascism, and how our failure as a society to stamp out those roots have led to its resurgence. Our events have also become venues for discussion and dialogue, between us as artists and documentarians of reality and the youth and the people we wish to serve. On the whole, we have hoped to equip the audience with information and critical skills so that they themselves can adequately decide the course of action to take as responsible citizens of the country.”

“We wonder why the AFP slanders us,” the artists say.

“Have they now become active defenders of the Marcoses and the criminals behind martial law? Or do they merely wish that the youth and the people remain ignorant of their central role as an institution in the wholesale trampling of our democratic rights—then and now?”

The statement continues: “As the people are unlikely to believe such hysterical lies by the AFP, we urge them to continue to support the exhibition of films and other informational materials on martial law. Let us further spread the word. We will not be cowed by these threats even as we will continue to condemn and expose these threats. The screenings will go on—and multiply—in schools, in communities, in factories, in farms, in offices, in migrant gatherings. The truth telling will continue!”

As of October 4, 2:32 p.m., the signatories of the statement include:

Aaron Alsol, student filmmaker

Aaron Cabangis, cinematographer

Abbie SJ Lara, filmmaker

Abigail Lazaro, filmmaker

Achinette Villamor, producer

Active Vista Film Festival

Adjani Arumpac, filmmaker

Adrian Arcega, filmmaker and educator

Adrian Mendizabal, UPFI MA Media Studies student

Adrienne Vergara, actor/performance maker

Afi Africa - filmmaker/actor/educator

Agot Isidro, Actress

Aiess Alonso, filmmaker

Alanis Magbanua, film student

Alejo R. Barbaza, filmmaker

Alemberg Ang, producer/teacher

Alex Poblete, filmmaker

Alexis Obedencio, film student

Alwin Reamillo, producer/ visual artist

Alyssa Suico, filmmaker

Alyx Arumpac, filmmaker

Amos Paquia, student researcher

Amparo Adelina C. Umali, III, faculty, UP Center for International Studies, film advocate

Ana Karina A. Cosio, researcher, writer

Ana Marika Francisco, filmmaker

Andre Yan, student filmmaker

Angel Romero, writer, artist, women, LGBT and human rights advocate

Angel Velasco Shaw, filmmaker, educator, cultural organizer

Angeli Bayani, Actress

Angelica Taruc, film student

Anna Isabelle Matutina, filmmaker

Antoinette Jadaone, filmmaker

Anton Pelon, writer/creative producer

Ara Chawdhury, filmmaker

Arbi Barbarona, filmmaker

Arjanmar Rebeta, filmmaker

Armi Rae Cacanindin, producer

Arnel Mardoquio, filmmaker

Arvin Kadiboy Belarmino, filmmaker

Aubrey Llamas, filmmaker

Austin Tan, student filmmaker

Avic Ilagan, filmmaker - artist/teacher

Baby Ruth Villarama, filmmaker

Benedict Mique, filmmaker

Bern Torrente, filmmaker

Bernie Mercado, writer-filmmaker

Bianca Balbuena, film producer

Bonifacio Ilagan, scriptwriter and director

Boombee Bartolome, media makeup artist

Brandon Relucio, filmmaker

Brian Arda, independent film actor

Brian Spencer Reyes, filmmaker

Brian Villanueva, educator, filmmaker

Carl Chavez, filmmaker

Carla Manalo, film colorist

Carla Pulido Ocampo, filmmaker

Carlo Cielo, movie fan

Carlo Lopez, filmmaker

Carlos Mauricio, cinematographer

Carmelo Paulo Relativo Bayarcal, media and creative consultant

Carol Bunuan Red, producer

Celeste Legaspi, actress, singer, producer

Cenon Obispo Palomares, filmmaker and film educator

Cha Escala, Documentary filmmaker

Cha Roque, filmmaker

Chaela Tordillo, film student

Chai Fonacier, actor, writer

Che Tagyamon, filmmaker

Cherish Aileen Brillon, educator

Christian Babista, filmmaker

Christian Linaban, filmmaker

Christine Silva, animator/filmmaker

Chuck Escasa, filmmaker

Chuck Gutierrez, filmmaker

Chuckberry Pascual, teacher, writer

Cocoy Lumbao, visual artist/writer

Cynthia Cruz-Paz, filmmaker

DAKILA artist Collective

Dale Custodio, director/educator

Dan Villegas, filmmaker

Danielle de los Reyes, producer, writer

Daphne Esplana, filmmaker

David Carandang, UPFI student

Dennis Marasigan, actor, filmmaker, teacher

Denzel Yorong, filmmaker

Detsy Uy, film event organizer/humanitarian worker

Ditsi Carolino, filmmaker

Dola Garcia, filmmaker

Dos Ocampo, filmmaker

Dwein Baltazar, filmmaker

Dwight Gaston, writer, designer, actor

Edward Paciano Cabagnot, writer & film educator

Edward Salcedo, filmmaker

Edwin Guillermo, actor/filmmaker

Edwin Rico Verances writer/filmmaker

EJ Mijares, filmmaker

EJ Salcedo, filmmaker

Eli Hiller, filmmaker and Photojournalist

Ella Mage, Journalist/filmmaker

Ellen Marfil, filmmaker, Pelikulove

Elmer Gatchalian, writer

Eluna Cepeda , filmmaker

Emman Pascual, filmmaker

Emmanuel Dela Cruz, educator, film event organizer and filmmaker

Enriq Pingol, filmmaker

Epoy Deyto, filmmaker and instructor

Eric Cabahug, writer

Erik Matti, filmmaker

Eseng Cruz, filmmaker/teacher

Ethel Mendez, producer

Faye Castillo, film student

Fiona Borres-DeLuca, filmmaker

Film Weekly

Frances Grace Mortel, photographer/filmmaker

Gab Ramos, UPFI student

Gabby Fernandez, filmmaker, educator

Gabrielle Tayag, filmmaker

Gale Osorio, filmmaker/Festival Organizer

Gary C. Devilles, PhD, Chair Filipino Department, Ateneo de Manila University

Gene Paolo Abrajano, filmmaker

Genevieve Reyes, Actress

Gerlyn Altura, filmmaker and media practitioner

Gershom Chua, filmmaker

Rianne Hill Soriano, filmmaker

Gianco Ante, multimedia artist

Gimson S. Alemania, Multimedia University of the Philippines Open University Filmmaking - Film School Manila

Gabriel Pancho, Film Weekly

Gio Potes, filmmaker, writer

Giosi Mendoza, filmmaker

Giselle "G" Tongi-Walters, filmmaker for Social Change & Women's Reproductive and Human Rights Advocate

Glecy Peñaloza, writer, researcher, filmmaker

Glenn Barit, filmmaker

Grace Simbulan, filmmaker

Guelan Luarca, screenwriter, teacher

Hannah Espia, filmmaker

Harlene Bautista, actor

Hazel Orencio, Actress

Hector Barretto Calma, filmmaker

Hector Graza Macaso actor/filmmaker

Henry Dela Cruz, Jr., screenwriter/Media Practitioner

Herb Comendador, filmmaker

Hiyas Bagabaldo, filmmaker

Hyro Aguinaldo, screenwriter

Ice Idanan, filmmaker

Idden de los Reyes, cinematographer-filmmaker

Ilang-Ilang Quijano, filmmaker

Iris Lee, filmmaker

Issa Encarnacion, filmmaker

Ivy Baldoza, filmmaker

Jade Castro, filmmaker

Jaerold Marc D. Ramos, educator/filmmaker/media practitioner

Jag Garcia, filmmaker and film professor

James Fajardo, UPFI Film student

Jamme Robles, UPFI student

Jan Michael C. Jamisola, filmmaker

Jan Philippe V. Carpio, writer, filmmaker, performer

Jan Tristan Pandy, filmmaker

Jane Biton, cultural worker

Janice Y. Perez, filmmaker and book author

Janina Fascists, filmmaker

Janina Gacosta writer/filmmaker

Janus Victoria, filmmaker

Jarell Serencio, filmmaker

Jay Rosas - writer, film screening/festival organizer

Jayneca Reyes, filmmaker

Jayson Bernard Santos, journalist/filmmaker

Jayson Septimo, cultural worker

Jed Medrano, filmmaker

Jedd Dumaguina, filmmaker

Jeffrie Po, filmmaker

Jeps Gallon, writer

Jericho Aguado, scriptwriter

Jerry B. Gracio, screenwriter

Jerry Benedict Rosete, filmmaker, media practitioner

Jessie Lasaten. filmmaker

Jet Leyco, filmmaker

Jewel Maranan, filmmaker

Jim Libiran, filmmaker

Jippy Pascua, filmmaker

JL Burgos, filmmaker

Joaquin Astilla, film student

Joel Ferrer, filmmaker

Joel Lamangan – filmmaker

Joey Javier Reyes, writer/filmmaker/teacher

Joel Saracho, actor

John Arcilla, performing artist

John Iremil Teodoro, writer

John Lapus, actor/filmmaker

John Rodriguez, Media Practitioner/director of Studies (Asia Pacific Film Institute)

Jon Red, filmmaker

Jonathan Olarte /filmmaker

Jonnie Lyn Dasalla, filmmaker

Josel Garlitos, writer

Joseph Israel Laban, filmmaker

JP Habac, filmmaker

Julienne Ilagan, filmmaker

Juliet Cuizon, filmmaker and film festival organizer

Jun Dio, filmmaker and educator

Jurex Suson, filmmaker

Justine Dizon, journalist, filmmaker educator

Kabunyan Palaganas, Photographer

Kara Moreno, filmmaker

Karen Lustanas, UPFI student

Karl Castro, artist

Karl Medina, artist

Katrin Maria Escay, filmmaker

Katrina Tan, Film Festival Organizer

Keith Deligero, filmmaker/Festival Organizer

Keith Sicat, filmmaker

Kenneth Guda, writer/editor

Khavn, filmmaker

Kidlat de guia, filmmaker

Kilab Multimedia

Kim Perez, producer

King Catoy, filmmaker

King Palisoc, filmmaker

Kip Oebanda, filmmaker

Kiri Dalena, filmmaker

Kodao Productions

Kris Cazin, filmmaker

Kristin Barrameda, writer

Kristine Camille Sulit, filmmaker/educator

Kristine Kintana, festival organizer

Kristinne Nigel Santos, writer

Kristoffer Brugada, filmmaker/educator

Ku Aquino, actor

Kyle Jumayne Francisco, production designer

Kyle Nieva, filmmaker

Laurence Marvin Castillo, educator

Lav Diaz, filmmaker

Law Fajardo, filmmaker

Lawrence Ang, editor

Lem Garcellano, writer, filmmaker

Leni Velasco, Festival Organizer

Leo Rialp, director and actor

Lih Ocampo, filmmaker

Louise Jashil Sonido, film scholar and media practitioner

Lucan-Tonio Villanueva, Film Weekly

Luis Liwanag, visual journalist/documentarian

M. Bonifacio, filmmaker

Ma-an Asuncion-Dagnalan, filmmaker

Mae Urtal Caralde, educator/filmmaker

Malaya Ad Castillo, writer

Marella Castro, writer

Maria Diosa Labiste, PhD, Department of Journalism, UP College of Mass Communication

Mariel Urbiztondo, filmmaker

Mario Cornejo, filmmaker

Marion Salvador, film student

Mark Aranal, actor-director

Mark Lester Menor Valle, filmmaker

Mark Raywin Tome, writer

Martika Ramirez Escobar, filmmaker

Marxie Maolen Fadul, production designer

Max Canlas, filmmaker

Maxine San Pedro, film student

May-i Guia Padilla, Media and Creative Consultant

Maya Quirino, Line producer

Mayday Multimedia

Meika Catog, filmmaker

Melanie Entuna, producer

Michael Angelo Dagñalan, writer/director

Michael Lacanilao, filmmaker

Michael Zerda/filmmaker

Mick Tuyay, photographer/filmmaker

Miguel Franco Michelena, filmmaker

Mika Fabella, filmmaker and writer

Mike Alcazaren, filmmaker

Mikey Red (designer/ filmmaker)

MJ Salumbides, film student

Moira Lang, filmmaker

Mon Garilao, filmmaker

Monchito Nocon, writer, film archiving advocate

Monster Jimenez, filmmaker

Myka Francisco, filmmaker

Nate Dorego, film Student

Natts Jadaone, writer

Nawruz Paguidopon, filmmaker

Neil Daza, cinematographer

Neil Portugal, producer/filmmaker

Nick Olanka, filmmaker

Nico Bagsic, journalist

Nikki Del Carmen, filmmaker

Nina Torralba, researcher-filmmaker

Nonong Buencamino, film composer/producer

Nonoy Gallardo, writer

Ogi Sugatan, filmmaker

Opaline Santos, theater practitioner

Oscar Nava, filmmaker

Pam Miras, filmmaker

Panx Solajes, artist/filmmaker

Paolo Villaluna, filmmaker/DGPI President

Pat Apura, animation director

Patrick F. Campos, writer and educator

Paul Grant, university professor

Petrick Franco, writer, media worker

Phylicia Santos, student

Phyllis Grande, film producer

Prolet, Poet

Qhris Lang, writer

Quark Henares, filmmaker

Rafael Magat, film student

Rafael Tibayan, film student, actor

Randolph Longjas, filmmaker

Ray Defante Gibraltar, filmmaker

Raymond Red, filmmaker

Raymund Villanueva, writer/journalist, Kodao

Raz de la Torre, filmmaker, educator

Rebecca Padilla, actor/performer/filmmaker

Revy Marata, UPFI student

Richard Soriano Legaspi, filmmaker, Academician

Ricky Lee, scriptwriter

RM Alfonso, UPFI student

Rob Jara, filmmaker

Rob Rownd, actor, filmmaker

Robert Sarmiento, production designer

Rolando Tolentino, UP Film Institute faculty

Rom Factolerin, filmmaker

Roman Perez Jr. filmmaker/cultural worker

Ronalyn Olea, writer/journalist, Bulatlat.com

Ronnie Gamboa, filmmaker

Rose Roque, educator, film archiving advocate, film event organizer (UP Manila)

Rovic Lalo, writer

Ryan Quimpo, writer/filmmaker

Ryle Custodio, film composer

Sari Dalena, filmmaker

Sari Estrada, filmmaker

Seymour B. Sanchez, filmmaker/teacher/writer

She Andes, filmmaker & educator

Sheron Dayoc, director/producer

Shirley Lua, educator and writer-critic

Sigfried Barros Sanchez, filmmaker

Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, filmmaker

Sonny Calvento, filmmaker

Sue Prado, actor

Tara Illenberger, filmmaker

Teng Mangansakan, filmmaker

Teresa Barrozo, film worker

Tey Clamor, cinematographer

The Breakaway Media

Theo Lozada, cinematographer

Tiara Orig, filmmaker

Timmy Harn, actor

Tito Genova Valiente, film critic and film educator

TJ Tan, educator, filmmaker

TM Malones, filmmaker

Tom Estrera III, artist

Topel Lee, filmmaker

Treb Monteras, filmmaker

Tudla Productions

Tyrone Velez, journalist, writer

Van Sulitas, president, UP Cinema

Victor Villanueva, filmmaker

Wanggo Gallaga, screenwriter and educator

Will Fredo, filmmaker

Willie Apa Jr., filmmaker

Xeph Suarez, filmmaker

Xzy Dumabok, UPFI student

Yason Banal, artist, teacher

Ysabella Fernandez, film student

Yves G. Patron, film sound engineer

Yves Jamero, filmmaker

Yvette Fernandez, writer

Zig Dulay, filmmaker