‘Province needs courts to stop tabloid printing’

Only the court has the authority to stop the publication and circulation of tabloids.

This was the reaction of lawyer Earl Bonachita when asked about the legality of a proposed provincial ordinance to ban tabloids with “immoral, vulgar, and sexually provocative” content.

“The province can’t legally stop the circulation of tabloids if the courts haven’t determined if these are against public morals,” said Bonachita, president of Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter.

He said it would be difficult for the Provincial Board to ban tabloids or radio programs that are sexually suggestive.

“If the distribution of those particular tabloids will be totally banned, it’s prior restraint,” Bonachita said.

The Constitution forbids the crafting of laws that limit the exercise of freedom of speech, of the press and of expression.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, however, said she supports the proposed ordinance.

“It is only right that limits be imposed on the tabloids because they influence readers especially the youth, who get exposed to lewd content,” she said.

Early this month, the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board filed a complaint against officials of Banat News and Sun.Star SuperBalita over allegedly “obscene, indecent and sexually suggestive” columns.

Named respondents were Banat News publisher Juanito Jabat, Philippine Star president Miguel Belmonte, writer Cindy Jones of Banat column “Wildflower,” Sun.Star SuperBalita editor in chief Michelle So, Sun.Star president and general manager Julius Neri Jr. and writer Fred Fuentes Monternel of SuperBalita column “From Junquera with Love.”

They were accused of violating Cebu City’s Anti-Indecency Ordinance and the prohibition on “obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.”

The complaints are under preliminary investigation./With a report from CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA