Directed by MTRCB: Questioning the constitutionality of the powers of the MTRCB

• Main Authors: Agregado, Ma. Joraissa C., Salamat, Joannah Marie V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Motion pictures > Censorship > Philippines; Television programs > Censorship > Philippines; Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/5649
• Institution: De La Salle University

Over the years, mass media has played a significant role in modern culture that reaches a large audience. This includes television, movies, radio, newspapers, magazines and so forth. The general public does not only rely to mass media for entertainment but as well as for information on what is currently happening in our country and the world. As society progress, it is inevitable that mass media would contain more liberal content and because of this, it is also inevitable that media would be regulated.In 1985, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) was formed through P.D. 1986. Even though the MTRCB has always emphasized their role as strictly for reviewing and classifying, the press and media has always argued that they held the power of censorship as well. Throughout the years, the MTRCB has made some decisions that confused not only the media, but also the public. Their standards as to how they classify materials seem to change depending on the head of the board. The makers of these films and television shows view these decisions as a violation of their constitutional right to the freedom of expression.This study will review and compare the decisions of the MTRCB and the reasons as to why they decided to ban or suspend certain films and television shows. Through this study, this paper hopes to determine whether MTRCB or P.D 1986 violates one of the most basic human right, which is the freedom of expression.