House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro today called for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to reconsider its “X” rating of the documentary “Alipato at Muog”, directed by JL Burgos. Her statement comes as the nation commemorates the International Day of the Disappeared and National Press Freedom Day, emphasizing the crucial role of art and media in highlighting social issues and injustices.
Rep. Castro underscored the significance of the documentary’s focus on the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos, stating, “Documentaries like ‘Alipato at Muog’ are vital in shedding light on enforced disappearances and the struggles for justice. The MTRCB’s ‘X’ rating not only stifles free expression but also silences stories that need to be told.”
She further expressed her concern regarding the MTRCB’s reasoning behind the rating, which included the absence of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions and the labeling of the documentary’s content as “leftist.” Castro remarked, “It is alarming that the MTRCB equates calls for justice with leftist ideology. We must nurture an environment where filmmakers can freely explore and present narratives that provoke thought and encourage dialogue.”
Rep. Castro pledged to address this issue in the upcoming budget hearing of the MTRCB, aiming to ensure that the agency’s actions align with the principles of press freedom and artistic expression. “As legislators, it is our duty to safeguard the rights of creators to present their truths and to ensure that oversight does not become censorship,” she concluded.
The call for the MTRCB to reassess its decision comes at a critical time when the country reflects on the vital importance of upholding human rights and press freedom. Rep. Castro’s advocacy reinforces the commitment to protect these freedoms and to support artistic endeavors that contribute to the national discourse. #
