TheIrma Adlawan and 'Oro' director Alvin Yapan pose for a photo during the 2016 MMFF awards night. Photo from the film's Facebook page

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The team of "Oro" admitted that a dog was killed during the filming of the movie, according to Liza Diño, the chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Diño, along with members of the executive committee to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), met with representatives of the Alvin Yapan-directed drama after receiving a complaint over a scene where a dog was shown being gutted as it was being prepared to be cooked.

In an update posted on Facebook, Diño said that those behind "Oro" deemed it fit to use a real animal as it "was within the bounds of culture in that area where dogs are eaten as food." They also stressed that no one from their production team, including the film's cast, participated in the slaughter.

Diño added that the "Oro" team "lied" to her when they initially said that a goat was killed in place of the dog, and that they had received a recommendation to coordinate with animal welfare group Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), whose legal counsel was present, regarding the scene but decided not to follow it.

The production team of 'Oro' faces scrutiny for showing dog slaughter on screen. Photo from the film's Facebook page

The meeting came days after PAWS penned a letter criticizing the film for showing a dog being butchered. The group has also called for the entry to be pulled out of the MMFF and all its awards rescinded.

At the time, Diño said that she acted in "good faith" when she was told that no animals were harmed for purpose of the film's production, prior to it opening as part of the annual film fest.

According to Diño, she and the MMFF executive committee, after deliberating the results of the meeting, have decided that the present version of "Oro" shall not be allowed to be screened in theaters.

"Pursuant to the agreement reached by the lawyers present during the inquiry, a new DCP (Digital Cinema Package) in keeping with animal welfare will be submitted for showing plus affidavit of support for human and animal rights and welfare alike," she wrote.

"In the meantime, out of prudence, and without prejudice to the law taking its course on whether or not an animal was killed in the course, or in connection with the filming of 'Oro,' no showing in theaters of the present version shall be allowed."

Diño also stressed: "We would like to reiterate that the MMFF Executive Committee takes this opportunity to strongly emphasize that it has not condoned nor will ever condone any cruelty to animals. Neither will it allow the festival to be the vehicle for such actions."

In regards to whether the team behind the film committed a crime or not, Diño earlier said that she and MMFF executive committee do not have the legal competence to determine so.

"Right now, the possible Violation of the Animal Welfare Act is up to the courts to decide should PAWS pursue the case," she explained, adding that the team behind "Oro" has already agreed to edit the scene out.

PAWS, in a statement released on Facebook, has vowed legal action against Yapan and his team.

"PAWS is preparing to file criminal case against those who killed the dog and against the people who watched/filmed the crime as it was happening and did nothing to stop it."

"Our investigation has not yet determined whether the former and the latter are one and the same. We call upon the actors and crew members who may have personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the killing of the dog. The non-disclosure contract that you signed is null and void as there was an immoral and criminal act that was committed."

"Please help us seek justice for the death of this dog and uphold humane standards for the use of animals in the entertainment industry."

"PAWS calls upon the MMFF ExeCom to require the ORO filmmakers to submit the raw footages of the dog killing and help us complete our investigation."

"We implore members of the entertainment industry to call out their colleagues when they commit acts of atrocities towards animals in the making of films and TV shows."

"Animals should never be harmed, killed or reduced as mere props to be discarded after the shooting of a movie. The Philippine entertainment industry must take an active role in the recognition of animals as sentient creatures capable of feeling fatigue, hunger and pain."

"The use of animals must be avoided as much as possible if scenes can be depicted using inanimate substitutes and computer generated imagery or CGI."

"If ever the use of live animals in a scene cannot be avoided, the animals should be treated humanely and always given the respect that should be accorded to living creatures."

"We must all collectively stand up against what the director of ORO wants us to do -- to turn a blind eye against animal cruelty.
The end does not justify the means, Mr. Alvin Yapan, and you must answer for the crime that has been committed against the dog that was killed for your movie."

"Oro" is one of the eight entries of the 2016 MMFF. Led by Irma Adlawan, it is based around a massacre that happened in a small mining community in Caramoan, Camarines Sur back in March 2014.