No MTRCB ruling yet on ‘The Da Vinci Code’

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has not yet reviewed the film "The Da Vinci Code" and so cannot pass judgment on it, MTRCB Chairwoman Consoliza Laguardia said yesterday.

"We cannot pre-judge a movie that we have not seen," Laguardia told The STAR in a phone interview.

The movie, based on the best-selling novel by American novelist Dan Brown, stars Oscar winner Tom Hanks and is due to open in local theaters by May 19.

Aware of the religious and theological controversy generated by the Brown novel, Laguardia said that the MTRCB could not comment on any film before viewing it.

She said they are scheduled to review the film in the first week of May, which gives them enough time to rate it before its scheduled opening date.

Laguardia pointed out that even if trailers for the film have been shown on television and in movie houses, the MTRCB still has the option to ban the film if they find it not fit to be shown.

She said she has not seen the film in advance or read the book, but has been apprised by her friends of certain excerpts. "We cannot ban a film on baseless accusations. We have to see the treatment of the film. Is it an attack against religion? Is it fictitious? Can the viewers or adults take it?" asked Laguardia.

"It would depend how the (MTRCB) board would take it," she said.

Laguardia said that even the Catholic Church has expressed divided opinion on the film.

She said some bishops have said the film might even help strengthen the faith of Catholics who see the film.

On the other hand, the Philippine Alliance Against Pornography Inc. (PAAP) proposed yesterday that President Arroyo lead an urgent fight to stop the showing of the controversial film. In a statement, PAAP spokesman Aldo Filomeno said that in order to preserve the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith, Arroyo should be a true statesman and ban the film and novel.

Filomeno suggested that Mrs. Arroyo issue an executive order banning the importation and showing of the film, "The Da Vinci Code;" that she should order the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bureau of Customs, MTRCB not to sign a clearance for importation of the film; order the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to seize and destroy all books written by Brown and sold in bookstores nationwide; order the Department of Justice to file urgent cases against Brown, publishers of "The Da Vinci Code" and bookstores that display and sell such literature; and declare Brown persona non grata in the country.

Filomeno said the display, sale of the novel and the showing of the film are in violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code that prohibits the showing and display of immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.

Moreover, he said, the novel and film violate Presidential Decree 1986, the law creating the MTRCB, and Republic Act 7610, the anti-child abuse law.

Filomeno said children have access to the novel and films rated PG-13 or R-13. "As the only Christian nation in the Far East, the President will have a lasting legacy if she will protect the name of Jesus Christ to be desecrated by an anti-Christian novel author," Filomeno said.

Portions of the novel claim that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and even had children with her, including the Merovingian kings of France.