On the Job 2013

In the heart of the Philippines, two men, Mario and Daniel, are not your typical prisoners; they often find themselves released from incarceration, only to be paid to carry out contract killings. Mario uses his earnings to provide for his daughter, Tina, and to support his estranged wife, Lulette, while Daniel sends money back to his family and indulges in the privileges offered within the prison walls. Surprisingly, Daniel views Mario as a father figure, learning from him during their violent undertakings. Their lives take a dark turn after they kill the notorious drug lord Tiu. The case surrounding Tiu’s murder falls into the hands of NBI Agent Francis Coronel, thanks to a political maneuver by Congressman Manrique. When Coronel and his partner Bernabe arrive at the local precinct, a contentious rivalry emerges with PNP Sergeant Joaquin Acosta, who is adamant that the case was unjustly stripped from him for political gain.

Further complications arise when Mario and Daniel are tasked with executing a hit on Linda. Her husband, Pol, who was once a colleague of Acosta, begs for assistance. During this time, Pol uncovers that Tiu’s murder is merely one piece of a larger puzzle involving multiple assassinations orchestrated by Manrique’s ally, Pacheco, a military officer vying for a Senate seat. Although Acosta steps in to shield Pol, the plan spirals out of control when Daniel takes a shot at Pol, only to find his weapon jammed. In the chaos that ensues, they evade capture but ultimately find and eliminate Pol in a hospital setting.

As they navigate their perilous existence, Bernabe suffers a critical injury, and Acosta is left troubled after catching a glimpse of Mario’s face. Tensions spike when Coronel confronts Manrique, threatening to arrest Pacheco, who the Congressman deems essential to their wealth and power. Meanwhile, Acosta broadcasts a composite sketch of Mario, now on the run. A troubling twist arises when Coronel learns of Mario’s home life and his relationship with Lulette, which Acosta exploits during his interrogation of Mario. Despite Acosta’s efforts, Mario reveals feelings of betrayal to Daniel, lamenting his disconnect from Tina, who brings shocking news of her intent to live independently.

The stakes continue to rise when Tiu’s father claims to have valuable evidence for Acosta and Coronel. A visit to Pacheco leads Coronel to a chilling confession about the murder of his own father to align with his twisted sense of duty to the nation. As undercover recordings surface, the tension escalates dramatically—the moment Daniel brutally kills Coronel ignites a violent response from Acosta, who confronts Pacheco and Manrique’s security at great personal risk.

Meanwhile, a despondent Mario feels utterly abandoned by his family, leading to a tragic decision where he kills Daniel, choosing to remain imprisoned rather than face a life devoid of purpose. The aftermath of Coronel’s death leads to an investigation of Acosta, while Pacheco hypocritically asserts his readiness for scrutiny in public. After witnessing Daniel’s funeral in a distant manner, Mario exacts vengeance on Boy, before returning yet again to the confinement of prison.

In the wake of all this chaos, Bernabe begins to sift through Coronel’s materials, eventually laying hands on the incriminating evidence against Pacheco, setting the stage for an anticipated confrontation that looms over them all.