Locsin calls for DreamWorks boycott following 'offensive scene' in 'Abominable'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 16) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin Jr. wants to take an extreme approach on how the Philippines should handle DreamWorks after its animated film "Abominable" featured a map asserting Chinese ownership over the South China Sea.

The film has been pulled from theaters in Vietnam for showing China's version of the South China Sea map. But it has been showing here in the Philippines since October 2. Locsin on Wednesday said the country should consider a total ban on all productions of DreamWorks Animation.

"For me, call a universal boycott of all Dreamworks productions from here on," he tweeted. 

The Cabinet official added in his other tweet, "A general boycott isn't my duty but I've suggested it. All Dreamworks productions, no re-runs — IF that's not an unconstitutional denial of Filipinos' right to see what they want; not what some f*cking natives think they should or should not."

DreamWorks is behind successful animated films "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda," and "Madagscar," among many more.

The movie 'Abominable' is about a young Chinese girl's travel to return a Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, to the Himalayas. It was a joint collaboration between US-based Dreamworks Animation and China-based Pearl Studios.

Early into the movie, the main character spread out a map of China that shows the U-shaped nine-dash line stretching from China's southern coast, encircling its claim in the South China Sea.

Based on the nine-dash line, parts of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone such as Scarborough Shoal and the parts of the Spartly islands are in Chinese territory — despite the 2016 arbitral ruling that parts of the South China Sea, including the Panganiban Reef and the Ayungin Shoal, are a part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. But China has consistently refused to acknowledge this ruling.

Locsin also said local cinemas should consider splicing the film to remove the "offensive" portion.

"What about cutting out the offending scene which puts the censorial act in its proper context and make the cut obvious? I hate waffling," he said.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo refused to meddle in the issue, saying it's up to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and DFA to deal with it.