Maza, Progressive Solons File Bill to Repeal Marcosian MTRCB Law
Press Release Posted on May 26th, 2009.
“It is high time to replace a Martial Law relic that is the MTRCB that has long been used as an instrument to curtail the right to freedom of expression especially socially-relevant and creative works critical of the administration in power.”
This is the statement of Gabriela Women’s Party Rep.Liza Maza today as she together with Bayan Muna Rep.Teodoro Casiño and Kabataan Party Rep.Raymond Palatino filed House Bill 6425 also known as the Movie and Television Classification Board Act of 2009, that seeks to repeal and replace Presidential Decree No.1986. The said PD has given the MTRCB the authority to ban films with critical political and social content.
House Bill 6425 shall establish a Movie and Television Classification Board (MTCB) which shall replace the existing MTRCB. The MTCB shall be confined only to the classification of motion pictures and television programs, and other related materials. The MTCB shall not be authorized to censor or modify or absolutely ban any motion picture.
“There have been a number of complaints from filmmakers regarding censorship over the years and films showing critical political and social content are arbitrarily slapped with an “X” rating. Ironically, most of these films earn awards from prestigious international film festivals. In this light, MTRCB has been widely seen as a repressive tool such that it violates the right to freedom of expression,” Maza said.
“There is a need to upgrade the standards and implement clear, specific and reasonable guidelines,” Maza said.
The “X” rating will be replaced by a “Certified Not For Regular Theatrical Release” rating in this proposed measure. It provides a clear and specific criteria regarding what is considered obscene or violent or inimical to public interest which shall be considered illegal.
Section 15 of MTCB Act of 2009 specifies how a motion picture or material can be considered obscene, violent or inimical to public interest. It states that a motion picture or material shall be considered obscene only when the same clearly meets all the following elements:
• The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find the work, taken as a whole, appealing to prurient interest and satisfying only the market for gratuitius sex and violence.
• The work depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way
• The work taken as a whole, and viewed within its context, manner of presentation, intention and culture, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
Furthermore, the proposed measure shall ensure that those who have qualifications, expertise and skills shall be the ones responsible in the classsifcation of motion pictures and television programs.
The progressive solons were accompanied by distinguished directors and filmmakers under the Task Force Free The Artists. They include Lav Diaz, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Auraeus Solito, Kiri Dalena, Jowee Morell, JP Carpio, Vives Anunciacion, Mario Guzman, Hai Balbuena, Keith Sicat, Sari Dalena, Emmanuel dela Cruz, Alexis Tioseco, Teta Tulay, Nonoy Lauzon, Free Expression Philippines led by Dino Manrique, and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).
For Reference:
Rep.Liza Maza (0920-9134540)
Francis Uyanguren (0915-9329407)
Attachment
explanatory_note HB 6425.docHB 6425 MTCB ACT of 2009.doc
