SINGAPORE — Filipino storytelling brilliance surged to the forefront of the global stage as Rein Entertainment unveiled its groundbreaking crime drama “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence” at the 2024 Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF). Held Thursday at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, the launch of the highly anticipated series captivated a full house of buyers and industry leaders, reaffirming the Philippines’ growing prominence in international entertainment.
Rein Entertainment—a thriving boutique production company in the Philippines co-founded by passion-driven filmmakers Lino Cayetano, Shugo Praico, and Philip King—first made waves at ATF in 2020 with the socio-political hit thriller “Bagman,” which continues to stream on Netflix. A bold and gruesome depiction of large-scale corruption unfolding in the microcosm of a small Philippine town, the series not only showcased the company’s commitment to hard-hitting narratives but also paved the way for a historic moment when Arjo Atayde bagged the country’s very first win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards as Best Actor in a Series. This landmark victory for the Filipino actor quickly placed Rein Entertainment and Philippine cinema promisingly on the Southeast Asian entertainment map alongside global giants like South Korea and Singapore.
Since then, regulars of the ATF have been looking forward to Rein’s next major offering and were not disappointed with the five-year wait for “Drug War.”
CREATIVE CONSPIRACY Arleen Cuevas (producer), Lino Cayetano (executive producer), Philip King (co-creator), Shugo Praico (writer, director, co-creator) and Ian Veneracion (actor) at the end of Rein Entertainment’s ATF launch of ‘Drug War: The Conspiracy of Silence.’
Known for delivering gripping, socially conscious stories, Rein Entertainment cemented its reputation as a trailblazer in Filipino filmmaking since 2017. Even in their award-winning MMFF 2022 entry “Nananahimik Ang Gabi” and “Elevator,” which stayed No. 1 for weeks on Netflix this year, their narratives consistently weave in pressing social issues, such as erring law enforcement and the plight of OFWs, adding layers of relevance and depth to their storytelling.
“Drug War,” their most ambitious large-scale series to date, continues that tradition, centering on the human cost of the Philippine drug war. The story follows Fr. Tom Carillo, played by award-winning actor Ian Veneracion, a privileged priest-turned-advocate who must confront his apathy and seek redemption while helping to expose what increasingly seems to be a deadly conspiracy. Alongside him is a cast of dynamic characters at the fringes of society whose struggles reflect the moral complexities of a nation under siege.
“Drug War’s” ATF launch started with a riveting panel discussion featuring Cayetano, Praico, King, producer and Rein’s consultant for international projects Arleen Cuevas, and Veneracion. Cayetano—who serves as the series’ executive producer—talked about the project’s impetus. Highlighting the team’s creative passion and commitment to authenticity, he stated, “We came from the idea of creating a Filipino adaptation of the popular Netflix series, ‘Narcos.’ We thought, why couldn’t the next ‘Narcos’ come from the Philippines, given the widespread impact of the country’s drug war?
“It touched every corner of society and garnered significant international attention,” he added, citing how the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a Filipina for her advocacy on the issue, the Pulitzer Prize honored photojournalists documenting its brutality and a Philippine author’s book on the subject becoming a bestseller.
Cayetano said the team, on the one hand—with Praico as director and creator and King as co-creator—viewed the countless tragic, visceral, and deeply human stories from the Philippine drug war as an opportunity to craft a uniquely Filipino series.
“The vision was to elevate these narratives into a gripping franchise that could reflect the depth of the human experience while showcasing the artistic potential of Philippine storytelling on a global stage,” he added.
Yet, on the other hand, as they continued to shape the narrative, they found themselves confronting the stark and painful realities of the stories they uncovered—lives tragically cut short, families torn apart, and a collective silence that had long shrouded the nation. It became clear to the team that besides the opportunity for a cinematic exploration of these harrowing events, these victims needed a voice, and their stories deserved to be told with the depth and compassion they had been denied.
Cayetano, however, adamantly emphasized that while “Drug War” takes inspiration from true events, the series is neither a documentary nor a political commentary. “This isn’t about politics. We couldn’t care less about that. What matters to us are the lives lost, the families left behind, and the silence that surrounded them. These are stories of pain and resilience, and they raise profound questions of morality and humanity—questions that are universal and resonate far beyond the Philippines,” he said.
Praico elaborated on the emotional depth of the project. “The harrowing accounts of those affected—the families left behind, the unjust killings—forced us to ask, ‘Why did we let this happen? Are we complicit?’ That’s where the title, ‘A Conspiracy of Silence,’ comes from. The series challenges us to confront our complicity and reflect on what it means to be human.”
For Veneracion, the role of Fr. Tom was deeply personal. “For me as a Filipino, this isn’t about political personalities or blame. I’m interested in policies that are lacking and have to be put in place,” he said.
“Fr. Tom’s journey is one of guilt and redemption. He reflects the conscience we ignored during that time. This is a story of my people, of our shared pain and hope. I’ve been in this industry for decades, but this role challenged me to see things from a completely different perspective.”
Cuevas returned to Cayetano’s sentiments regarding the series’ universal appeal: “There’s a hunger for authentic stories like this, especially in the true crime genre. ‘Drug War’ may be rooted in Philippine experiences, but its themes of justice, compassion, and redemption resonate globally,” she said.
King added to this, emphasizing the balance between fiction and truth in the storytelling. “We fictionalized the series to honor the victims while giving ourselves the creative freedom to deliver something deeply compelling and entertaining.”
The launch ended with a powerful 10-minute excerpt of “Drug War’s” pilot episode, which gripped audiences to the edge of their seats. Featuring some of the country’s most exceptional actors, Romnick Sarmenta and Harvey Bautista delivered a hauntingly poignant portrayal of a father and son both terrified for each other and their lives as police officers scour their shanty town, armed with tacit authority to shoot them should they resist. The preview was gritty, bloody, and unflinchingly raw, and while brief, already emerged as a powerful wake-up call urging those watching to ensure such horrors never happen again.
Without a doubt, the reception at ATF 2024 powerfully underscored the series’ impact. Buyers and industry leaders immediately expressed enthusiasm for the gripping trailer and the creative team’s dedication to telling a story that is both urgent and universally significant.
“We’ve always believed that Filipinos are incredible storytellers,” Cayetano said in his closing remarks. “With ‘Drug War,’ we’re reminding the world of that while showing the depth of our compassion and creativity.”
Slated for release in mid-2025, the filming of “Drug War: The Conspiracy of Silence’s” six-part series resumes as soon as Rein’s team arrives from Singapore. Interested buyers from around the globe may visit www.reinentertainment for inquiries.
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