Brandy execs face raps

Owners of Destileria Limtuaco are now facing criminal charges for the "kinse años" billboards and commercials of Napoleon Brandy, which complainants have branded as "obscene and offensive to women and minors."

Lawyers Katrina Legarda, Eric Mallonga, Minerva Ambrosio, Cristina Sevilla and children’s rights advocates Maria Isabel Ongpin and Ray Salvosa filed the charges before Department of Justice against Julius Limpe, Lily Limpe, Betty Limpe Ngo, Bessie Joy Limpe, Olivia Limpe-Aw, Pastor Bustos and Lourdes Galang, all directors and officers of Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc., manufacturer and distributor of the brandy.

They are also the officers of Destileria’s subsidiary, Convoy Marketing Corp.

Also charged were Romy Singson and Jake Tadena, president and general manager, respectively, of the SLG advertising agency credited for the "Nakatikim ka na ba ng kinse años?" campaign.

The complainants claimed the ads insinuate an offer to "try or taste a 15-year-old child and not brandy.

"It’s meaning is clear. It offers a child to the public in an indecent, suggestive, obscene and pornographic manner," the complainants averred.

The lawyers said the advertisements were a violation of Sections 5, 9, and 10 of Republic Act 7610, or An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.

The complainants said the law mandates the State to provide special protection to children from all forms of abuse and "other conditions prejudicial to their development."

The law further requires the State to protect children gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect or will affect their survival and normal development and over which they have no control.

"The best interests of children shall be the paramount consideration in all actions concerning them and every effort shall be exerted to promote the welfare of children and enhance their opportunities for a useful and happy life," the complainants said.

The complainants said the accused were responsible for putting up huge billboards along EDSA and on Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque.