Manila tabloid faces charges for content

A criminal complaint was filed against two editors and several other persons  for publishing lewd photos and columns in a Manila-based tabloid.

In its complaint filed on April 19, the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CCAIB) said the tabloid  Bomba Balita Saski sa Katotohanan violated Cebu City Ordinance 1408 or the Anti-Indecency Ordinance.

The tabloid was  also accused of violating the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which prohibits “obscene publications, exhibitions and indecent shows.”

Named respondents were president/editor in chief Florescita Arellano, entertainment editor Art Tapalla, a certain Joncon, Joaquin Valderama, Jimmy Boy Savellano, Rosemarie Rivera, Maureen Carlos, Krystille Asuncion and other unidentified persons.

The respondents  will be required to file counter-affdavits with  the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.

In its complaint, the board said  they received information  about Bomba’s content being “obscene, indecent and contained language or words that are totally vulgar.”

After verfication, the board said it found the columns and pictures of naked men and women in Bomba  were   sexually suggestive.

In page 4 of one issue,    five columns  used words that are “totally vulgar with details of sexual intercourse.”

Copies of Bomba were seized by the board and policemen during a raid in downtown Cebu City last Feb. 24.

They raided magazine and newspaper stands along the streets of Manalili, Legaspi, Sikatuna Pelaez and Mabini.

Other confiscated tabloids include Toro, Bagong Toro, Remate and Hataw. These tabloids are published in Manila and sent to Cebu.

Four  vendors and one distributor in downtown Cebu City were arrested and charged in court for selling pornographic materials.  Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol