"Anti-Tabloid Ordinance" passed on first reading

CEBU, Philippines - Despite reservations from the chairman of the committee on human rights, the Cebu Provincial Board yesterday passed on first reading the proposed “Anti-Tabloid Ordinance” of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

PB Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. begged off as co-sponsor of the proposed measure on the ground that it may already delve on matters involving violations of rights.

Magpale would have wanted Holganza to co-sponsor the ordinance being the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the Province of Cebu.

The Vice Governor believes that being the ABC Federation president Holganza will play a very important role in its implementation.

But Holganza said the absence of a glossary of terms could lead to subjective interpretation that could result to gross violations of civil and human rights.

“The picture of skimpily clad men and women on the front pages of some publications might be abhorrent to some as it is aye candy to others,” Holganza said.

He also cited that it is now an accepted marketing practice to boost local sales. Holganza said that the passage of this ordinance will also draw more complications as to whether billboards and calendars that will feature similar images should also be banned.

“And if we dare prohibit the display of these images in tabloid front pages, magazine covers, billboards and calendars then what are we to do with the real thing?” he asked.

“Are we going to ban the wearing of bikinis and swimwear in our public beaches and private resorts?” he added. Holganza admired the unrelenting effort of Magpale as chairman of the Provincial Women’s Commission in advancing and defending the rights of the women.

“I believe that the state has the right to regulate the exercise of civil rights but I also believe that legislated morality is a step back in time that the Taliban in Afghanistan would applaud,” Holganza said.

He expressed his strong reservations on the legality of the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance seeks to prohibit the sale, distribution, possession, or exhibition of tabloids and such other similar printed and reading materials containing immoral or indecent pictures, acts/activities, or writings that are sexually-provocative within the Province of Cebu.

It was triggered by the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board’s filing of a criminal complaint against two Cebuano-language tabloids for running fiction stories that the board said used “obscene, indecent and sexually suggestive language.”

The proposed ordinance, however, did not specify the tabloids to be banned. - (THE FREEMAN)