Two official entries face the risk of being banned from this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) once the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issues a ruling banning political candidates from the entertainment industry from appearing in the movies, prodding the MMFF executive committee to take action.

Two of the official entries to the 35th edition of the annual MMFF Festival are “Panday,” whose lead role is once again being portrayed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.; and “Wapakman,” top-billed by world boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Revilla is reportedly running for vice president in the 2010 elections, while Pacquiao is bent on running for a congressional seat in Sarangani next year.

While awaiting the advisory that includes the guidelines for actor-politicians that Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the poll body will issue next week, the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) said they would appeal to Comelec to exempt film entries starred by politicians planning to run for national and local positions from the election ban.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, MMFF Executive Committee head, said they have come up with a petition supporting the clamor of the filmmakers to allow the showing of “Panday” of Sen. Revilla and “Wapakman” of Pacquiao, two of the seven entries which are expected to do “good” in this year’s edition of the film festival. The film festival runs from December 25 to January 5.

Fernando said the MMFF stands to rake in some P500 million in gross revenue from all the entries.

“If the Comelec will ban Panday and Wapakman, siguradong hindi makukuha yung target na kalahating bilyon ngayong taong ito. Bukod dito, mababawasan yung amusement tax that was waived by the local government units, pati na din yung mapupunta sa ibang mga beneficiaries na dependent sa kita ng MMFF,” stressed Fernando.

Of all the seven entries chosen for the festival, Panday has the potential to become a blockbuster owing to its tradition and history as a proven attraction among Filipino moviegoers, Fernando said.

MMFF beneficiaries include Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), Film Academy of the Philippines, Anti-Piracy Council, Optical Media Board, and Film Development Council.

“The producers of these films have already invested so much for their projects and the only way for them to recoup this is to allow their films to be shown in public,” the MMDA chief said.

Fernando also said the executive committee may have to replace scrapped films at the last minute because of complications in MMFF rules.

Fernando also said official entries go through strict review, deliberation, and secret balloting. Each entry must also satisfy the qualification based on commercial viability, creativity, and Filipino cultural values to make it to the list.

The other official entries to the MMFF 2009 are “Juan,” starring Dolphy and Willie Revillame; “Mano Po 6: My Mother,” starring Sharon Cuneta; “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” starring Vic Sotto; “Shake, Rattle & Roll 11,″ starring Ruffa Gutierrez; and “Ikaw na Nga,” starring Kris Aquino.

Another entry, “Nieves,” starred by Marian Rivera who originally made it to the official list, has withdrawn its participation for the event.

Earlier, movie and television actress Ara Mina, who also plans to run in the 2010 elections, appeared before the Comelec office to seek clarification of the poll body’s rules on actors and actresses who will join the 2010 political race.