Office of the Vice President : Press Release


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KABAYAN LAUDS MTRCB WITHDRAWAL OF REVIEW ORDER
31 May 2005

Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro welcomes the move of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman Ma. Consoliza Laguardia to amend her controversial circular 07-05 that was questioned by both legislators and journalists alike for its tendency to purportedly muzzle the media and appears to be against the ideals of democracy and freedom.

The Vice President said that he talked to Laguardia last week regarding her order, and he was happy that the MTRCB chairperson was open to his ideas on the matter.

“Ipinaliwanag ko kay Chairman Laguardia ang masamang epekto ng restrictive order niya sa malayang pamamahayag. Idiniin ko sa kanya na kaakibat ng demokrasya ang “Press Freedom”, at huwag niyang pigilan ang pagsisiwalat ng katotohanan sa mga public affairs and news programs,” the veteran broadcast-journalist said.

The Vice President further noted that as public servants, government officials should always be sensitive to the repercussions of their actions and should be ‘flexible’ enough to address valid concerns of those who are affected by their actions.

The original memo dated May 17, was criticized, as it seemed to foster a regime of prior restraint on all public affairs programs, news documentaries, socio-political editorials and programs of the same category. The order cited a Supreme Court decision and Presidential Decree 1986, said that these programs were subject to review by the MTRCB.

Sought for clarification, however, and after getting flaks from all concerned, Laguardia modified the memo stating that as regards documentaries and other public affairs programs, which can be submitted ahead of time before telecast, MTRCB would continue to review these as far as practicable. With respect to current affairs programs, live talk shows and news telecasts, MTRCB would only review these after broadcast subject to certain conditions, especially when there are complaints filed against particular shows.

Sa pagsasaalang-alang ni MTRCB chairman Laguardia ng karapatan ng mga mamamahayag, sa pamamagitan ng pagbawi niya ng kontrobersiyal na order, ako po ay sumasaludo sa kanya sapagkat hindi po naging sarado ang kanyang isipan sa mga puntos ng mga kasamahan natin sa media at kanyang pinatunayan na siya ay kakampi natin sa pagpapanatili ng malayang pamamahayag sa bansa.

Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro welcomes the move of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman Ma. Consoliza Laguardia to amend her controversial circular 07-05 that was questioned by both legislators and journalists alike for its tendency to purportedly muzzle the media and appears to be against the ideals of democracy and freedom.

The Vice President said that he talked to Laguardia last week regarding her order, and he was happy that the MTRCB chairperson was open to his ideas on the matter.

“Ipinaliwanag ko kay Chairman Laguardia ang masamang epekto ng restrictive order niya sa malayang pamamahayag. Idiniin ko sa kanya na kaakibat ng demokrasya ang “Press Freedom”, at huwag niyang pigilan ang pagsisiwalat ng katotohanan sa mga public affairs and news programs,” the veteran broadcast-journalist said.

The Vice President further noted that as public servants, government officials should always be sensitive to the repercussions of their actions and should be ‘flexible’ enough to address valid concerns of those who are affected by their actions.

The original memo dated May 17, was criticized, as it seemed to foster a regime of prior restraint on all public affairs programs, news documentaries, socio-political editorials and programs of the same category. The order cited a Supreme Court decision and Presidential Decree 1986, said that these programs were subject to review by the MTRCB.

Sought for clarification, however, and after getting flaks from all concerned, Laguardia modified the memo stating that as regards documentaries and other public affairs programs, which can be submitted ahead of time before telecast, MTRCB would continue to review these as far as practicable. With respect to current affairs programs, live talk shows and news telecasts, MTRCB would only review these after broadcast subject to certain conditions, especially when there are complaints filed against particular shows.

Sa pagsasaalang-alang ni MTRCB chairman Laguardia ng karapatan ng mga mamamahayag, sa pamamagitan ng pagbawi niya ng kontrobersiyal na order, ako po ay sumasaludo sa kanya sapagkat hindi po naging sarado ang kanyang isipan sa mga puntos ng mga kasamahan natin sa media at kanyang pinatunayan na siya ay kakampi natin sa pagpapanatili ng malayang pamamahayag sa bansa.

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