MTRCB budget gets House OK, but mandate review urged over 'Alipato at Muog' rating

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Friday gained the approval of the House of Representatives for its requested P167-million budget for fiscal year 2025, even as a lawmaker called for a review of its powers and mandate.

During the House plenary deliberations for the proposed MTRCB budget, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas raised that the documentary film "Alipato at Muog" was initially given an X-rating.

"Alipato at Muog" is an independently produced documentary film, which centered on the search for truth behind the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos in 2007. Jonas is the brother of JL Burgos, the director of the film.

After a second review by the MTRCB's five-member board committee, the film was reclassified to R-16.

"Bagamat ni-reclassify ito to R-16, kinailangan pa magprotesta ng pamilya ni Jonas Burgas at kanilang mga taga-suporta. Bakit unang na-classify as X-rated?" Brosas asked.

(Although the film was reclassified to R-16, the family of Jonas Burgos and their supporters had to protest the MTRCB decision. Why was it initially classified as X-rated?)

Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya, vice chairman of the House Appropriations panel and sponsor of the agency's proposed budget, then defended that only three MTRCB board members were present during the initial review of the film.

"Honorable speaker, they were looking at a case in which its certifications have not yet been (finalized). To avoid the sub judice rule, they made the classification, although, after the second review, where the agency has secured the certification to the Court of Appeals, there are no more pending cases. They classified it to R-16," said Gasataya.

Brosas then questioned the alleged inconsistency within the members of the agency. She also noted that she watched the film and that it is non-fiction, which highlights the pursuit of truth and the mourning of the Burgos family.

"Pati ang mga ebidensya na pinresenta nila sa korte. Kaya nakakapagtaka 'yung X-rated nito. Is the initial X-rating sujective and inconsistent in the Board's decision-making processes? Pero kung sinsasabi niyo na sub judice rule nga, even na gano'n, facts lang naman ang nilalatag sa film itself," she stressed.

(Evidence presented in court was shown in the film. So it's curious why it got an X-rating. Is the initial X-rating subjective and inconsistent in the Board's decision-making processes? But if you say that the sub judice rule was given consideration, it should be noted that the film just laid down facts.)

With this, Brosas suggested to the agency that it should review its mandate and power in classifying films.

"We have a suggestion na kung maaaring i-review na talaga ang mandate at powers ng MTRCB kasi hindi ito maaaring maging hadlang sa pagpapakita ng katotohanan, lalo na't mahalaga ang papel ng mga pelikula, dokumentaryo at iba pa sa pagpapakita ng kalaayan ng ating lipunan," she said.

(We have a suggestion to review the mandate and powers of the MTRCB because the agency should not be stumbling block in the presentation of the truth, especially with the vital role of films, documentaries, and others in depicting freedom in our society.)

The MTRCB, through Gasataya as its budget sponsor, agreed that it was indeed high time to conduct such a review.

"We join the manifestation, the agency takes note of it. And we believe that indeed its timely to review the charter of the MTRCB, which was apporved in 1985," Gasataya said.

The documentary film premiered in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival and was awarded with the Special Jury Award for full length film. — VDV, GMA Integrated News