Mindanawon journo’s film receives Special Mention Award in Dhaka filmfest
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 January) – Among six Philippine entries in the recently concluded 24thDhaka International Film Festival, Sa Likod ng Tsapa (Beneath the Badge), a documentary directed by Mindanawon journalist Editha Caduaya received a Special Mention Award.
The five other Philippine films in the filmfest held January 10 to 18 are Salum (Delve) by TM Malones, Republic of Pipolipinas by Renei Dimla, Sepak Takraw by Mes de Guzman, Kono Basho (This Place) by Jaime Pacena II and Kung Ika’y Makapili (If You Were to Choose) by David Kairu Castillo.
The filmfest featured 246 competing films across seven sections from 93 countries. Sa Likod ng Tsapa was among 27 films under the Women Filmmakers Section.
According to the film’s publicity materials, the documentary focuses on the life of Police Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan, “portraying the complex realities of police service—its challenges, moral dilemmas, personal sacrifices, and moments of quiet triumph—beyond the uniform and public perception.”
The Special Mention Award, which is based on audience response, underscores the film’s universal appeal and its power to connect with viewers regardless of geography or background. It also “highlights the growing presence of Philippine documentaries on the global stage, particularly those emerging from regions outside the country’s traditional production centers.”
“This recognition came directly from the audience, and that makes it profoundly meaningful,” Caduaya said. “It tells us that stories from Mindanao—when told honestly and without embellishment—can move people anywhere in the world.”
The 55-year old Marantan of Pamplona in Cagayan Valley, joined the Philippine National Police in 1998 and has served in intelligence, investigative and command positions.
He served as Acting Davao City police chief during the operations to arrest Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in 2024.
He was the principal team leader in that controversial checkpoint operation in Atimonan, Quezon that led to the death of 13 persons in 2013, was charged with multiple murder in 2014, dismissed from service, reinstated in 2017, and acquitted in June 2025, along with 12 other police officers, after the court ruled that the operation was conducted under perceived imminent danger.
Caduaya of Newsline Philippines, a Davao City-based journalist for at least three decades, said Beneath the Badge began as a journalistic inquiry and evolved into a full-length documentary, blending reportage with cinematic storytelling to reveal the unseen human cost of public service and the internal struggles faced by those sworn to protect.
“I never imagined that a story rooted in reporting would travel this far and be honored on an international stage. This award affirms the power of truth-based storytelling,” she said.
“This is a win for filmmakers from the regions. It proves that we do not need to come from major production centers to tell stories that matter. Mindanao has voices worth listening to, and this recognition honors that truth,” she said.
“If this film encourages even one young storyteller from the regions to believe in their voice, then this recognition has already achieved something far greater than an award,” she said. (MindaNews)
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