ABS-CBN has issued an apology after airing some scenes in the new TV series starring Gerald Anderson, “A Soldier’s Heart”, which may have offended Butuan residents.
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“ABS-CBN would like to apologize to Agusan Del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun and the people of Butuan City if the scenes in the TV series ‘A Soldier’s Heart’ have offended them. While the incident portrayed in the series was fictitious, there was mention of the city name,” ABS-CBN’s statement read.
“We would like to assure them that there was no deliberate intention to portray Butuan City negatively in the show. We acknowledge that Butuan is one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities in the country,” the network added.
Fortun called out the network for the drama series’ portrayal of Butuan City as a hub of extremism and hotbed of chaos.
“The depiction is not only unrealistic, it is offensive because it is destroying the collective efforts of the people of Butuan to promote the Home of the Balangays as a tourist destination for history and culture and a hub of opportunities,” Fortun said in a statement.
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In the TV series pilot episode, Anderson was portraying the role of an IT expert who helped the military in tracking a rebel group in Butuan City.
