Bill typecasting lawmakers as crooks hit

Thursday, February 23, 2012

TWO lawyers on Thursday branded as unconstitutional a resolution authored by Pampanga Representative Aurelio Gonzales prohibiting the depiction of lawmakers as villains in movies or television series.

At Wednesday's Fernandina Forum in San Juan, lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Allan Paguia said the resolution violates the freedom of speech and expression, which is guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution.

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"Ano ang pagkakaiba ng mga congressman sa gobernador at mayor? Dapat, kapag nagpasa ng batas ay binibigyan ng proteksyon ang lahat (How about the governors? Or the mayors? The law should equally protect all.)," Topacio said. Both lawyers said the resolution can be considered as class legislation.

The two lawyers were one in saying that the resolution will not pass muster.

For their part, actor Rez Cortez, chair of Actors Guild of the Philippines, and film director Nick Lizaso said the resolution is a violation of the constitutional right on freedom of speech and expression.

"This is censorship pure and simple," Cortez said.

Cortez said the proposed resolution could be a way of protecting former president and now Pampanga 2nd district Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said a plan to do a movie based on Arroyo's life as president and politicians may face rough sailing if such resolution is approved.

Movie Review and Television Classification Board (MTRCB) Chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares earlier said the resolution has "a chilling effect of indirectly restraining the right of the public to know the acts of their government and to hold their leaders accountable."

"It is beyond the authority of the Board to prohibit an idea or concept until such is translated into a motion picture or television program that transgresses legal provisions. An act that determines what the public may be permitted to know or to watch could be interpreted as a species of prior restraint," Llamanzares said in a press statement.

Llamanzares is the daughter of action king and 2004 opposition presidential standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr., who lost to Arroyo by a small margin.

House Resolution 2140 appeals to the "local TV and movie industry to minimize, prevent, or stop typecasting congressmen and congresswomen as villains or crooks in movies and television telenovelas, in order not to create stereotypes or negative public perception against members of the House of Representatives."

In filing the resolution, Gonzales said, "These portrayals are unfair and at the very least, sully the good name of honorable congressmen and congresswomen who work hard for the welfare of their constituents."

"These negative typecasting influence the general public, especially young children, into forming a negative impression about the members of the House of Representatives," he added. (AH/Sunnex)