ANG beteranong broadcaster at ngayo’y filmmaker na si Direk Ceasar Soriano ang huling nakapag-interview kay Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio “Tony” Halili isang araw bago binaril at napatay ang alkalde last year, sa kasagsagan ng flag ceremony sa city hall.

Dahil dito, naisipan ni Direk Ceasar na isapelikula ang makulay na buhay ng pinaslang na mayor, at ginawa niya ang The Last Interview: The Mayor Antonio Halili Story, mula sa kanyang GreatCzar Media Productions. Isa itong true story.

First and only choice niya raw si John Estrada upang gumanap sa character ng nasawing alkalde, na nakilala sa pagpaparada ng mga magnanakaw at drug pushers at users sa kanyang siyudad.

Tsika at Intriga

Ethan David sa 'grooming' issue: 'I was the 13 yrs old being referred to!'

Tanong namin kay Direk Ceasar nang dalawin namin ito sa kanyang opisina sa Quezon City kamakailan, bakit niya naisip na gawing pelikula ang buhay ni Mayor Tony Halili?

“When I was a reporter, I was very fascinated and obsessed in understanding the harsh and not normal parading of drug pushers and drug users. I came to know that this mayor was accused of human rights violations, parading the drug pushers and users.

“So, I wanted to know why was he doing that? What motivated him? What was the reason, what was his driving force why he has to parade these drug pushers and users? So, to me, it’s very interesting.

“I find it so interesting dahil isa siyang mayor na marami ring kalaban. I interviewed him and I told him, I will do a movie. For how many weeks, nag-haggle kami about his story. He was still alive then. That very night, for four hours, he agreed to be interviewed, and finalized our production of the movie. “

Wala bang pag-aalinlangan sa pamilya ni mayor na isapelikula ang buhay nito?

“Kahit na magdalawang isip sila, talagang in-insist ko siya. For four hours, he revealed everything. It was so unfortunate that the following day, he was assassinated!

“And in that interview, he already sensed na parang iba ‘yung magiging kahinatnan, because our questions were like, ‘O, pinatay na si (Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo) Parojinog, (Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando) Espinosa… baka ikaw na ang kasunod?’

“On my way home that early morning, he called me. Sabi niya, ‘Ceasar, can I have a meeting with you tomorrow after the flag ceremony? Sabi ko, ‘wala namang problema, mayor.’ Hindi ko ma-imagine na may natanong ako sa kanya, ‘Ano kaya’ng magandang ending ng pelikula mo, Mayor?’ He told me, ‘bukas, malalaman natin ang sagot diyan’.

“So, when he was assassinated, wala na! Parang ayoko na, kasi, wala na siya, eh. But he kept on appearing in my dreams. Parang, ‘ano ba, bakit hindi mo gagawin (ang pelikula)?’

“Nag-decide akong gawin para maipakita ko na there is this mayor who served his town, booted out from the list of mayors na kailangang bigyan ng security. Because he was involved in drugs, nasa drug watchlist ng Presidente.

“It was so interesting to know that fateful morning during the flag ceremony, when he was assassinated. Who killed him? Why was he killed? What’s the story behind?” lahad n i Di r e k Ce a s a r Soriano.

Mula sa screenplay ni Abet Padagdagan Raz, kasama rin sa cast sina Ara Mina, Martin Escudero, Mon Conf i ado , Yayo Aguila, at Juan Miguel Soriano.

Showing ang The Last Interview: The Mayor Antonio Halili Story sa May 22, in cinemas nationwide