ABS-CBN follows KBP guidelines on children

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN recently reiterated to its TV production staff, through its Office of the Network Ombudsman, the guidelines of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) on the proper treatment of children in entertainment and variety programs.

Some of the pertinent provisions remind TV networks that children should not be required, coerced or bribed to narrate traumatic experiences on shows. They shall not be ridiculed, diminished, or demeaned; and camera angles should not be used to create indecent and inappropriate images.

The ABS-CBN Ombudsman also restated to its TV production group the salient provisions of the Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” which the Broadcast Code of the Philippines also mandates networks to comply with.

Child abuse, as defined in RA 7610, refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which includes psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment. Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being is also considered as child abuse. Unreasonable deprivation of a child’s basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; as well as the failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and development or in his permanent incapacity or death are also violations to the aforementioned republic act.

“Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” under Article V Section 9, also stated parameters whenever a child is involved in an indecent show. It said that “Any person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, or model in obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said materials shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its medium period.” The punishment will be at its maximum period however, if the child used a performer is below 12 years of age.