Margot Robbie who stars as 'Barbie' poses for the media prior to a news conference of the movie in Seoul, South Korea, on July 3, 2023. - AP
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Senator Padilla said that the film”Barbie” could be shown in Philippine theatres if the part about Beijing’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea is removed.
“Barbie” was directed by Greta Gerwig, and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
“If this will affect the arbitral ruling, but if the producers agree and they can edit the scene, there is no problem for me. It can be shown,” Padilla said in a statement.
But if the producers refuse, the film should not be distributed in the Philippines, Padilla added.
“All this will depend on the content and to what extent its producers will allow the cutting out of the part that does not favour the arbitral ruling,” Padilla said.
Padilla heads the Senate committee on public information and mass media.
In 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration affirmed Manila’s sovereignty over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea, dismissing China’s claims. China, however, rejects this ruling.
