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The Philippine Embassy in Washington has denounced what it called a “highly negative portrayal” of the Philippine President in the American television series “Madam Secretary.”
In the CBS political drama’s upcoming episode, the Philippines’ “unconventional new president” Datu Andrada was punched in the face by the female lead character, US Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, after exhibiting inappropriate behavior toward the top American diplomat.
WATCH: ‘PH President’ punched by US official in TV series
In a letter to CBS, the Philippine embassy said the portrayal “tarnishes the Philippines’ longstanding advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality” as it called on the network to make “necessary corrective actions.”
“While Madam Secretary is a work of fiction, it tracks and mirrors current events. It is, therefore, inevitable that its depiction of world leaders will have an impact on how its audience views the real personages and the countries they represent,” the embassy wrote.
“This highly negative portrayal of our Head of State not only casts doubt on the respectability of the Office of the Philippine President but also denigrated that way our nation navigates foreign affairs. In view of the injurious effects that this program will have on the interests of the Philippines and the Filipino people, the Philippine embassy urgently calls on CBS to take the necessary corrective actions,” it added.
Unorthodox Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has forged a foreign policy that veered away from its longtime treaty ally, the United States.
Duterte, a confessed womanizer, has been criticized for sexually inappropriate remarks against women in the past, including his admission of spanking the bottoms of female cops, ogling at the knees of Vice President Leni Robredo, and catcalling a female reporter during a press conference.
The episode teaser showed a fictional Philippine president leering at the US official. “I clobbered a world leader instead of saving a major regional agreement,” McCord told her husband after the incident.
It will air on March 12, Sunday. CBB