Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair and CEO Jose ‘Joey’ Javier Reyes refuted rumors that he had resigned from his post after his previously-approved business-class privilege for an official trip to Spain was withdrawn.
The rumors arose after Reyes expressed his frustration over receiving a memo from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) saying that the privilege granted to him had been withdrawn following a review of the travel arrangements and government rules on official travel.
The notice was issued on Sept. 11, a few days before Reyes was supposed to fly to Spain to sign a co-production agreement.
Reyes was unable to make the scheduled trip and instead sent a representative to attend on his behalf.
‘After all the hard work, all it took was the stroke of a memo to disavow all the sacrifice invested to fulfill what was required and to deliver credible results,’ he said through his Facebook page last Sept. 16. ‘But that is bureaucracy and despite all these decades of human experience, I am still a neophyte in the domain of government. I was infuriated. Frustrated. Insulted.’
Reyes then addressed the resignation rumors during his speech at the closing event of the Philippine Film Industry Month on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
‘Surprise! Hindi ako resigned, contrary to popular rumors that sent me trending this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I’m very much alive and still part of the FDCP.’
Reyes explained during the event that while he was hurt and insulted by the withdrawal of the approval, he understands and respects the decision. He nonetheless underscored that he would have appreciated being given more time to adjust to the change, given that he had already scheduled appointments in Spain.
In a message sent to INQUIRER.net, Reyes said he will not resign over this issue because he has ‘so much work to do.’
Meanwhile, in a separate Facebook post after the event, Reyes also seemed to have playfully alluded to the resignation rumors.
‘Philippine Film Industry Month done. Honoring members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for their nearly five decades of hard work assessing Filipino movies/ Now the program is over and I haven’t had dinner. I am ‘resigned’ to war cheese and crackers when I get home,’ he wrote.