I'm sure natuwa ang MTRCB

sa self-censorship efforts ng ABS-CBN.

But what if in the future yung mga political critics naman ng Arroyo admin ang mabibiktima ng censorship?

Here's the Memo from MTRCB's Laguardia:

Office of the President of the Philippines
MOVIE & TELEVISION REVIEW & CLASSIFICATION BOARD

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 07-05

TO : TELEVISION STATION MANAGERS / BLOCKTIMERS / REPRESENTATIVES
FROM : THE MTRCB CHAIRMAN
SUBJECT : PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS, NEWS DOCUMENTARIES, SOCIO-POLITICAL EDITORIALS, AND THE LIKE

DATE : MAY 17, 2005

We wish to inform you all of the Decision of the Third Division of the Supreme Court dated January 17, 2005, that public affairs programs, news documentaries, socio-political editorials, and all other programs of the same category, are television programs that are subject to MTRCB review and approval in accordance with Section 3 of Presidential Decree 1986.

In view of this, please be advised to submit materials of the aforementioned television programs to the Board for review and approval prior to telecast, effective immediately.

Failure to comply will result in sanctions as provided for in P.D. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Please be guided accordingly.

Signed by:
Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia
Chairman

Cc: RDG/RVB/JBJ/MBV/DAB/VPV/PMI/Local Prod./File

Tignan mo yung nangyari sa PROBE Team. Napilitang umalis sila sa GMA7 dahil hindi nila nagustuhan ang censorship na ginawa ng GMA7 (a pro-Arroyo TV Station) sa kanilang report on PAGCOR.

GMA7 was forced to censor PROBE team because First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Efraim Genuino of PAGCOR complained re the PROBE segment, even though it is obvious na buking sila sa expose ng PROBE team and they are just using their "connections" to spike the PROBE report.

(Do you think they would censor a hard-hitting report kung si Erap o si Lacson ang target nito? I think not.)

Ang akin naman, if somebody used words that are inappropriate for TV, then fine them. But don't censor certain speakers in advance because of what the networks think they might say.

UPDATE: More censorship from the MTRCB.

Previous:

- Gov’t bans live airing of TV talk shows
- NUJP: Media gag won't solve govt problems
- ISAFP's "Knowing the Enemy"
- Howls of outrage greet muzzling of TV
- Fine, decent chief censor?
- Armida's take on the MTRCB's Memorandum Circular No. 07-05