Smut publications denounced

Running-priest Father Robert Reyes and the National Movement Against Pornography (NMAP) yesterday launched a war against the spread of smut tabloids and magazines.

In fact, the first targets of the group’s scorn could be the publisher of Toro and Bosero, as they are set to file charges against Sunny Mallari next week in violation of Presidential Decree 960 or the Anti-Pornography Law.

"The newsstands are replete with a whole variety of porn from soft to hard, from heterosexual, gay or lesbian sex, all the way to bestiality," Reyes said.

"(But) no one censors newsstands. Newsstands are free for all. Smut is for sale and unfortunately, they sell quite well," he added.

During yesterday’s forum, the NMAP presented samples of what they deem as smut due to "very nude photos," and vowed to charge in court the owners and publishers of each tabloid and magazine in the next few days. Two of those presented, whose owners and publishers could be facing charges, were Bomba and Astig.

The group said that the government should genuinely act on eradicating smut for good, believing that the on-and-off emergence of those tabloids and magazines over the years is due to the "protection" given to its owners by persons in the legislature, judiciary, police and military.

"It’s all about money. Walang pakialam kung ang commodity na binebenta nila ay malaswa . . . basta sila ay kumita. Politicians need money for the election . . . certain criminal syndicates, well connected with the police, courts, and politicians (could be behind this). So, we are fighting the wind," Reyes noted.

Reyes also criticized the Arroyo government for not giving attention to the proliferation of smut tabloids and magazines, and only focusing on defeating the Abu Sayyaf and empowering the military.

According to him, the President should consider veering from Abu Sayyaf issues for a while and look into other important matters.

The group also urged President Arroyo to give its stand on the proliferation of smut materials, stressing the issuance of an Executive Order could now be imperative considering the growing presence of the scandalous materials.

However, Bayan Muna Rep. Liza Maza warned that the government might use the pornography issue to justify moves to ban tabloids that are critical of the government. "I am against, of course, to pornography because it is another kind of violence against women. However, gusto din naming bigyang babala na sana huwag gamitin itong issue na ito para gipitin ang mga tabloids na critical sa gobyernong Macapagal-Arroyo," Maza said. "I hope they don’t use censorship against freedom of expression."