A documentary on the life of former President Joseph Estrada has reportedly been given an "X" rating by some members of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, meaning the 57-minute film is unsuitable for public viewing pending another MTRCB review.
"Ang Buhay Para sa Masa (To Live for the Masses)," produced by Public Asia Inc., is a narrative story on the life of the former president — from childhood, his school days, his movie career and entry into politics until the time he was charged with plunder and put behind bars.
" It’s a newsreel, a narration of actual events," Estrada’s lawyer, former immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, told The STAR.
Rodriguez said the MTRCB has already conducted a first viewing and put an X-rating to the documentary, similar to the controversial bold movies that are banned from public showing.
He said they have filed for exemption from the MTRCB rating invoking a Supreme Court ruling that exempts newsreels from board review and classification.
"The MTRCB’s decision against the airing of the video was patently unfair and was a violation of the Board’s mandate. The video dealt exclusively with the life and times of President Estrada and was based on facts," Rodriguez said in a statement.
Rodriguez said the review committee had no problem with the private life of Estrada but they were concerned about the account after the leader’s ouster which they perceived as "anti-GMA."
"In fact, it can be clearly classified as a newsreel, meaning it is a short motion picture film dealing with current events. Thus technically it is not up to the MTRCB to rule on its airing," the lawyer said.
"The accounts in the newsreel have been known to the public," he said.
The STAR tried to get the side of the MTRCB, but according to Cynthia Pilar of the MTRCB staff, chairwoman Ma. Consoliza Laguardia was having a closed-door meeting.
Rodriguez added Estrada’s camp was taken aback by the X-rating, saying it was given without the presence of representatives from the video’s distributor and producers, which is clearly stated under Section 6 of Presidential Decree No. 1986 that created the MTRCB.
He said however that MTRCB board member and former Marcos administration minister Gregorio Cendaña has assured them that the board will act on their request.
Rodriguez said the board has scheduled a second viewing of the controversial newsreel. — With Mike Frialde