A hacker defaced on Saturday the website of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, claiming that the agency is remiss on its duty for allowing the airing of a "malicious" political ad on television.
"Naglabas ng isang paid ad ang isang politiko at ito ay ipinakalat ng isang news giant. Anong nangyari sa taga monitor, taga-salang at taga-bantay ng mga ipinopost sa TV at sa print media?" a message on the defaced MTRCB site reads.
"Pinoy Hackers" (as it claimed to be) took a dig on MTRCB's negligience for the airing of the ad, which it did not specify.
"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 hacker wrote.
Also, "Pinoy Hackers" encouraged voters to keep the ad in mind as they cast their ballots on Monday, and pushed for stricter censor laws in the media.
A 30-second television ad that used children to campaign against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte drew a barrage of criticisms from Filipinos for using children in the "negative political ad" supposedly paid for by vice presidential candidate Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
But MTRCB Chairman Eugenio Villareal washed his hands off the issue, saying the agency does not have the discretion to preview political ads for TV broadcast during the election period.
"...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," he said.
Villareal explained that MTRCB defers to the Comelec for supervision of such advertisements, and that advertisers and networks should observe self-regulation in regard to content.
"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," he said.
Last Friday however, the Comelec said it has no power to stop the airing of a political advertisement directed against a particular candidate.
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