MTRCB hands off on political ads

MANILA, Philippines - The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) will not review and classify political advertisements shown on television and movie houses as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sole jurisdiction on these matters.

“Under the Constitution, that is Comelec’s call,” MTRCB chairman Eugenio Villareal said in a text message to The STAR yesterday.

He said the MTRCB would wait for the Comelec guidelines regarding political advertisements.

“We can help, but we don’t want to preempt them (Comelec),” Villareal said.

He said political advertisements are beyond the mandate of the board, which is tasked to classify movies and television shows and monitor indecent, pornographic and other prohibited content.

The agency is working with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in going after bus operators who allow the showing of pornographic videos on their buses.

It has deputized agents to monitor movie houses and report any violation to the board.