No censure from censors for Duterte expletives | Inquirer Entertainment

No censure from censors for Duterte expletives

/ 03:12 AM December 03, 2015

NO LAP DANCE HERE A female supporter of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, presidential candidate of PDP-Laban, sits on his lap at the MAD for Change event at McKinley West Open Field in Taguig City. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

NO LAP DANCE HERE A female supporter of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, presidential candidate of PDP-Laban, sits on his lap at the MAD for Change event at McKinley West Open Field in Taguig City. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

It seems no one can throw the book at presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whose recent expletive-peppered press conference turned into a bleepathon when it was aired on television—particularly on TV5.

READ: Duterte shocks, awes

Article continues after this advertisement

The gender-sensitive and politically correct audience were naturally scandalized, but the question begs to be answered: Can anyone censor, or at the very least censure, the politician for his colorful, and some say offensive, language?

FEATURED STORIES

Eugenio “Toto” Villareal, chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), told the Inquirer that since the Duterte press conference was aired as a newscast, “it is not within the government agency’s jurisdiction as mandated by PD No. 1986.”

Presidential Decree No. 1986, which created the MTRCB, gave the board the power “to screen, review and examine” movies and television shows.

Article continues after this advertisement

However, news programs are protected by the constitutional provision on the freedom of expression and of the press.

Article continues after this advertisement

In its 2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations, the MTRCB defined news programs as “straight and objective news reporting as distinguished from news analyses, commentaries, opinions and editorials… which are subjective in nature.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Villareal explained that according to Section 7 of PD No. 1986 “newsreels (interpreted as straight news) are excerpted from MTRCB jurisdiction.”

Luchi Cruz-Valdes, head of the news and public affairs department of TV5, told the Inquirer that the network had no official statement on the controversial Duterte press conference.

Article continues after this advertisement

She explained that “it was a live coverage and there was no way to take out unairables. But we did edit out the expletives in all subsequent packaged reports on television as well as online.”

Valdes reiterated that the network “does not see the need to adjust any policy at the moment.”

TV5’s handling of the Duterte case in subsequent airings showed an example of “self-regulation.”

Villareal said that it’s best for networks to practice self-regulation. “The Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) can also come in [when issues crop up],” Villareal said.

The KBP, an organization composed of owners and operators of radio and televisions stations “aims to advance and sustain the highest standards of quality in the broadcast industry.”

RELATED STORIES

 

De Lima on Duterte’s cussing:  Is he serious?  Nakakahiya!

CBCP hits Duterte; hits back on its child abuse

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Archbishop hits Duterte: Corruption is a devil with many faces

TAGS: Duterte, Elections 2016, Eugenio Villareal, Luchi Cruz-Valdes, MTRCB, Rodrigo Duterte, Rody Duterte, Toto Villareal

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.