Directed and written by Erik Matti, On the Job is a Filipino crime drama inspired by actual events. Political corruption, dirty cops and a perfect cover-up set the scene in Manila, where high profile politicians and military officials have discovered the perfect alibi to get away with murder: hiring prisoners still serving time to execute their hits.

Daniel (Gerald Anderson) and Tatang (Joel Torre) are not your typical Filipino inmates, they are regularly given leave from the prison to execute hits for some of the Philippines top politicians. Through a web of corruption, government officials are able to extract Daniel and Tatang from prison, have them commit murder, and then return them. It is the perfect cover up, no one would suspect an incarcerated man of committing a murder murder that happens outside the prison. Another twist is that the politicians have complete control over their contract killers. Both inmates are intent on making a better life for themselves and their families if they can escape the cycle of corruption and crime they find themselves caught in. The plot thickens when one of the intended hits, a retired police officer, survives and Daniel and Tatang must finish the job by breaking into the hospital where is recovering that is heavily guarded by police officers.

Entering into the drama come federal agent Francis (Piolo Pascual), an ambitious young agent assigned to take over the case because of his family connection to a Congressman, and Sergeant Acosta (Joey Marquez) one of Manila’s few honest cops. Bound by their mutual desire to solve the case, the two officers are forced to work together despite their initial dislike of one another.

Inevitably the two worlds collide: corruption versus integrity, with poverty forever caught in the middle.

On the Job is an interesting take on the Hollywood style crime thriller, striking a balance between character development and action, with an ending that is not overly predictable despite being a little cliche.

Astrid Handling