State fascism and Katherine Luna

Had it not the intervention of a clearer mind, award-winning actress Katherine Luna could have been just one of the numbers in the indiscriminate Extra Judicial Killings (EJKs) during the dreaded time of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

If it could happen to ordinary mortals living in the slums or poor urban places all over the country, it could happen to the glitz and glam denizens of the firmament world in the city.

They might not have been killed but they were on the list to be detained on a warrantless arrest.  

The list went on—actors Krista Miller, Kat de Santos, Sabrina M., Mark Anthony Fernandez, Julio Diaz, CJ Ramos, to name only a few.

Meanwhile, actor Roel de Villa, a suspected drug user, was gunned down

In an interview with newscaster and vlogger Julius Babao, Luna—who won Best Actress award in 2004 for the Mario O’Hara-directed Entertainment Warehouse’s “Babae sa Breakwater” in Cinemanila International Festival, Young Critics Circle (YCC), Cine Fan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema and nomination at the prestigious Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) of the same year—said she and her live-in boyfriend at the time were “…profiled under ‘Oplan Tokhang.’

Katherine, Katherine Diaz Eson in real life, clarified that there were no buy-busts and other planted pieces of evidence that came with the arrest.

In 2020, said Luna, during the total lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her partner were inside the house when she heard a knock on the door which she opened. “…ayun na, yun na daw yung huli. Hinuhuli kami (…that awas it, that was the arrest. We were being apprehended),” said the actress.

Kath added that the police ransacked their house. Then, she and her former lover were handcuffed.

“Nilaban ko yung kaso kasi wala naman talagang bentahan na nangyari (I fought for the case because there was no buy-bust that occurred),” stressed Luna.

Kath informed that she was jailed for four years but obviously, she fought for her case however long the process was.

In a nutshell, the harrowing experience of the actress happened five years ago.

Yet we still hear news of apprehensions without warrants of arrest. The police just barged in her house and rummaged through their things.

State fascism, anyone?  

At the time, Katherine was inactive from show business.

The authorities might have some background about her, alright, like being an actress, but that was then immaterial anymore as she was in the narco list.

What was more important as a source of reference was the manner by which the arrest was done—the absence of a warrant of arrest.

In this case, the rule of law was jeopardized.

And in the media industry where the problem is misrepresentation like describing Luna as an “indie” actress when she is just simply an actress.

As a marketing tool among the audiences, “indie” has gained a discrepant meaning apart from a studio or “mainstream” film actress when Katherine was also part of many big film outfit productions before she was launched in a solo venture.

In a contextual manner, “indie” is selective of patronage, “mainstream” being hegemonized as on top while if it is encouraged, campaigned, advertised massively and reoriented the same as “mainstream” commercial products, the market has all the time in the world to discern what is favorable and adaptable to them—that the only difference is their spellings. 

The color of money for “indie” and “mainstream” films is the same and the socio-economic structure that works for both types of audio-visuals.  

Entertainment Warehouse owned by the late arts and culture entrepreneur Arlene Aguas was a multimillion film enterprise as well.

“Babae sa Breakwater” was a big film which was directed by an award-winning, notable and veteran director Mario O’Hara with a bevy of sought after stars and creatives in the industry like Gardo Versoza, Amy Austria, Lou Veloso, Odette Khan, Kristofer King etc.

After her launching movie, Katherine was signed up with Viva Films, a moneyed company which also produces so-called independent films it also pumped in a million bucks to them.

For the meantime, Luna reemerged in the scene when she was interviewed by broadcaster and vlogger Julius Babao and recalled her encounter with the war on drugs policy of Duterte.

Kath also said a mouthful about her relationship in the past with Coco Martin.

Consequently, she apologized to Coco for telling the public that he was the dad of her daughter. “Sana, mapatawad mo ako (I hope you forgive me),” she begged.

In a quick response as the interview went viral, Martin said he has already forgiven his ex-gf and promised to cast her in the highly rated ABS-CBN action drama “Batang Quiapo” and assist in her eye surgery.