Pastors, preachers file obscenity suit vs Playboy RP edition

MANILA, Philippines – Several pastors and preachers of different churches in Metro Manila, led by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, yesterday filed a joint complaint affidavit before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for grave scandal and obscene publication against the executives of the recently launched local version of Playboy magazine, as well as three other magazines and three tabloids.

The complaint cited violation of Ordinance No. 7780 of the City of Manila which prohibits the printing, publication, sale, distribution and exhibition of obscene and pornographic acts and materials.

Charged in the Joint Complaint Affidavit were Ramon Faustino, editor-in-chief; Vince Sales, managing editor; and Clarisa Palomo, circulation manager, all of Playboy Philippines; Allan Madrilejos, editor-in-chief; Allan Hernandez, managing editor; and Glenda Gil, circulation manager, all of FHM Philippines; Pierre Inaki Calasanz, editor-in-chief; Beting Dolor, managing editor; Thelma Sioson San Juan, general manager; and Rina Lareza, head of circulation, all of Maxim Philippines; Zak Zorro Zamora, editor-in-chief; Dexter Manila, managing editor; Deo Alvarez, general manager; and Norie Villanueva, circulation manager, all of Playhouse Men’s Magazine.

Also named as accused were tabloid newspaper personnel namely: Editha Asumbrado, editor-in-chief; Lyn Panus, president; and Mae Mai Gener, vice president, all of Sagad; Gloria Galuno, managing editor; and Edwin Alcala, circulation manager, both of Hataw; and Joe Dalde, editor-in-chief of Toro.

Lance Gokongwei and Lisa Gokongwei Cheng, chairman of the board and president of Summit Publishing, publisher of FHM Philippines; and Eugenio Lopez III and Ernesto Lopez, chairman of the board and president, respectively of ABS-CBN Publishing Inc., publisher of Maxim, were also named as accused in the criminal complaint.

In the affidavit, the complainants said that sometime in September 2007 to July 2008, “the said magazines and tabloids printed, published, distributed, circulated and sold in the City of Manila contain pornographic, obscene, erotic, indecent, or lewd pictures or poses that show, depict, exhibit, or describe nude or semi-nude bodies, sexual acts, sexual intercourse, private parts of the human body of both male and female, with no educational, artistic, cultural or scientific value, but clearly and purely intended or calculated to draw lust, stimulate sexual drive, excite impure imagination or arouse prurient interest.

“Such portions/pages of the said magazines and tabloids are clearly scandalous, obscene and pornographic within the meaning and in violation of Articles 200 and 201 of the Revised Penal Code,” the complaint said.

Abante, on the other hand, said that the filing of the case against the magazines and tabloids, which they consider pornographic, will be more of a “test case.”

“This will be the first time that a class suit will be filed against these magazines and tabloids,” Abante said, adding that they want to let the people know the consequences of the proliferation of these magazines and tabloids, particularly on teenagers and women.

“We want to find out what the law will say about it,” stressed Abante, a pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church in Sta. Ana, Manila.

While they believe they are going against some of the most influential people in the industry, Abante was nevertheless  hopeful that there are still judges who will have the moral conscience to look into their complaint.