Sex sells
After Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale trained her guns on tabloids with lewd content, the Cebu Provincial Board is studying moves to ban sexually suggestive radio dramas. The PB discussed the idea during a caucus last Monday after listening to a suggestion aired by board member Thadeo Ouano.
Ouano reportedly told his colleagues about a sexually suggestive radio soap that is very popular with radio listeners. The conversation generated a response from the usually quiet PB member Julian Daan, a popular and prolific scriptwriter, drama talent and director of radio soap operas. Daan, a.k.a. Teban Escudero to his fans, owned up to authorship of the salacious radio play.
It was not clear whether Daan defended himself or lectured Ouano about the role of the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) on the matter of broadcast self-regulation, but when the news came out, social networking sites were buzzing that the hangos-hangos (moaning) radio dramas are being telescoped by the PB.
Whatever it is, I would like to commend Vice Governor Magpale for taking the cudgels against the proliferation of lewd materials in the media. Because of her unrelenting position, a tabloid has resolved to withdraw a sexually suggestive column.
Sex sells, the reason why salacious materials are being peddled in tabloids, magazines and broadcast media. Their purveyors argue, while looking at the profit and loss statement, that this falls under protected thought or idea.
Philippine and US jurisprudence have been enriched supposedly by numerous cases sustained by this legal doctrine, which tells me the Magpale-proposed ordinance will just end up in the trash bin. In the case at hand, I will never be able to understand why freedom of expression should outweigh society’s shared responsibility of protecting itself from the evils that threaten its morals. But then again, sex sells.
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The hottest buzz in local politics is not the growing alliance between the Garcias of Cebu and the Marcoses of Ilocandia, perceived to be a preview of the 2013 midterm elections, but rather the amicable settlement arrived at between former Cebu City mayor and now Congressman Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district and businessman Jonathan “Atan” Guardo.
To recall, Tommy filed a libel case against Atan last year over the latter’s statements accusing City Hall of stopping the distribution of relief goods to fire victims. Friday last week, a contrite Atan apologized to Tommy and waxed lyrical after the congressman withdrew the case. “Sorry is not the hardest word” if one is sincere, Atan said.
Osmeña and Guardo used to be political allies but their relationship soured during the 23rd Southeast Asian Games held in Cebu City in 2005. As co-host of the SEA Games, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) released P10 million to the Cebu City Sports Commission and the Cebu SEA Games organizing committee, two administrative units headed by Guardo.
The money was meant to fund the improvement of sports facilities in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Danao but reports said Commission on Audit records showed Guardo was only able to account for P8 million, and out of that amount only P700,000 was spent in line with the terms of the budget allocation.
Tommy denounced Atan for misuse of funds, but Guardo vehemently denied the accusations.
In September 2009, the PSC lowered the boom on Atan by charging him for malversation of public funds before the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region Branch 11 in Manila.
The 2005 PSC funds anomaly eventually saw Atan seeking his own political agenda. He ran and lost in the 2007 congressional derby against Osmeña ally and incumbent congressman Tony Cuenco. The businessman ran again in the May 2010 elections, this time versus Tommy who won the race overwhelmingly.
The case filed by the PSC against Atan was forgotten until October last year when policemen arrested Guardo based on a warrant issued by the NCR court.
Because the arrest happened late in the afternoon, Guardo failed to post bail. He endured temporary detention at the NBI office but was later freed after posting bail.
Tommy has squelched speculation that his moves are politically driven. However, because his body language points to plans of returning to City Hall come 2013, a rapprochement with a fierce political rival like Atan is always significant. It means Tommy will have one less headache in terms of matching the businessman’s resources during elections whatever his political plans are.
The more important upshot of the Tommy-Atan peace settlement is directed against Mayor Michael Rama as it would have the effect of neutralizing the incumbent’s efforts to strike bargains with Tommy’s political enemies, like Atan, or former mayor Alvin Garcia who was also reported to have smoked the peace pipe with Tommy.
That is why the Tommy-Atan amicable settlement was met with raised eyebrows because the withdrawal of the libel charges is not the kind of quid pro quo that would entice a moneyed politician like Atan to come running to the peace table. He can very well defend himself in court by hiring the best lawyers, who could yet vindicate him.
So, the question remains. Unsa gyud kahay linugdangan niining tanan?
