MTRCB: No authority to review political ads during election period

MANILA, Philippines – The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Saturday reiterated that it has no authority to review any political advertisement for television broadcast during the election period.

In an advisory issued by MTRCB Chairperson Eugene Villareal, the board said it is the Commission on Elections that has jurisdiction over TV advertisements during the campaign.

“In response to continuous queries and feedback over traditional and social media, the MTRCB reiterates that it does not, as a matter of law and practice, preview any political advertisement for TV broadcast during the election period. The Agency furthers affirms its regular policy of respect and deference to the COMELEC, which has jurisdiction to supervise and regulate such advertisement under the Omnibus Election Code, the Fair Elections Act, and COMELEC Resolution No. 10049,” the advisory read..

“At the same time, advertisers and networks are to observe self-regulation in regard to content,” it added.

The MTRCB published the advisory in its website after it was defaced by hackers who identified themselves “Pinoy hackers.” The hackers questioned the release of negative advertisements against presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte on major television networks and hit the board for allegedly failing to implement fair and unbiased reporting in TV, print and movie industry.

The 30-second anti-Duterte advertisement supposedly paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, showed several children questioning the morality of electing the mayor as president citing its profanity, among others. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano secured a temporary restraining order against the advertisement from a Taguig Court on Thursday.

“Ginawa itong MTRCB para magsilbing taga-implementa ng "FAIR AND UNBIASED' reporting ng mga TV,print and movie industry pero nagsawalang-kibo (literal, they turned a BLIND EYE) to that malicious political mud-slinging Ad,” the hackers’ message read.

The board then said the airing the television advertisement may have violated laws other than election laws. It assured the public that it will always be considerate in regard to the welfare of children and other vulnerable sectors.

“All the above, however, are without prejudice to any action that may be brought post-broadcast to such appropriate forum for relief or other measure for the violation of any other law or norms other than election laws, subject always to due process for all those concerned,” the advisory stated.

“The MTRCB assures the public that it will always be solicitous in regard to the welfare of children, women and other usually vulnerable sectors in media and entertainment. It also has, on the other hand, a developmental mandate to promote free speech and expression. Being a creation of law however, the MTRCB must necessarily act within the framework of mandates of individual agencies and of the courts,” it added.

The board last Friday through social media also clarified that the Comelec has jurisdiction over political advertisements, but the Comelec has said it only regulates airtime, not content.  

For the May 9 polls, the MTRCB called on the viewing public to support the Comelec for honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.

The deputy.mtrcb.gov.ph website is still defaced as of posting.

RELATED: MTRCB website hacked over anti-Duterte ads | MTRCB: Comelec has jurisdiction on political ads