Robin Padilla maintains that he did not withdraw his MMFF entry because they had not started filming yet

MANILA, Philippines – A reportedly angry Robin Padilla clarified that his movie “Mr. Wong” was pulled out from the Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 not because filming hasn’t started yet, but to give way to Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito’s “Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga.”

“Wala namang drama sa MMFF. Kami ay handa. Ako ay ipinanganak na handa. Ako po ay ‘di umaatras. Ako po ay nagbigay. Hindi ko kailan man matatanggap ang retreat,” the action star was quoted as saying by abs-cbnnews.com in a report posted online on Oct. 27.

The removal of “Mr. Wong” from the lineup was confirmed early this month both by Padilla and Ejercito in separate interviews by PEP. As a result, Ejercito’s “Asiong” was given the slot vacated by Padilla’s movie.

In his interview, posted Oct. 17, Ejercito said that while “Asiong” is already done filming and is now on post-production, other entries, such as “Mr. Wong,” have not even begun shooting.

In reaction to this, Padilla told abs-cbnnews.com, “Wala kaming niloko dito. Nagbigay kami. Sabi ni ER, may mga pelikula pang ‘di nagshu-shooting, eh ‘di mauna ka na para mapalabas na. Sabi niya, P50 milyon na ang nagastos niya eh ‘di nagbigay ako. Ako ang nagbigay, huwag na nila ako gawing masama.”

Padilla further stressed, “Ako ay nagbigay sa kaibigan. Ang MMFF, hindi basta-basta ‘yon. Hindi puwedeng lokohin ang manonood na basta-basta lang ang pelikula.

“Parang uminit yata ang ulo ko,” he added later on.

In Padilla’s PEP interview on Oct. 20, the actor said that he already discussed the issue with Ejercito, but also related, “Ang nangyari, lumaki. Nagtalo naman silang dalawa [his manager and ER] no'ng aming kaibigan.” He also expressed his confidence that “Mr. Wong” would’ve made the MMFF’s deadline because all was already set for the shoot.

More, Padilla laughingly addressed Ejercito and asked him for his seed money back.

“E, Governor, personal kong pera  ‘yun. Sana, personal mo ring pera ang ibalik mo sa akin. Ako'y maggi-give in para sa 'yo dahil kaibigan kita pare. At alam mo ‘yun na sabay tayong nag-umpisa. Sabay tayong nasa ilalim ni Elizabeth Vidanes [his manager],” he told PEP.