NCCA to study ‘Josie Rizal’ Tekken character issue, look at legal aspect

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said in a press statement Thursday that it is "studying what actions it may take on the issue of the name and image of Dr. Jose Rizal" being used for the "Josie Rizal" Tekken 7 character.

NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr said the NCCA will be working with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to study the legal aspect of the issue.

De Leon also said in the statement posted on Facebook that Dr. Leodenito Cañete’s opinion on "Josie Rizal" "is not reflective of the stand of the Commission" and added that Cañete "is not an NCCA official" nor is he a member of any NCCA national committee.

The "Josie Rizal" character is the first Filipina in the "Tekken" series, and specializes in Filipino martial art eskrima and kickboxing, according to Bandai Namco Games' Katsuhiro Harada.

The NCCA head said Cañete is a partner in the Bayaning Bayan project, a painting competition under the Philippine Cultural Education Program of the NCCA.

The NCCA Secretariat earlier clarified to GMA News Online that Cañete is not an NCCA official, as previously reported.

Cañete had said the Tekken character sports skimpy wear, with the costume bearing the colors of the Philippine flag.

He said he plans to take steps to "correct" any wrong impression "Josie Rizal" may have given about Dr. Rizal and the Philippines, though he declined to elaborate how he plans to do this, a GMA Cebu report said. — ELR, GMA News