ON THE CENSORSHIP OF RIGHTS: 13 Film Artists Statement

ON THE CENSORSHIP OF RIGHTS: 13 Film Artists Statement

"For it is the supreme duty of the artist to investigate the truth, no matter what forces attempt to hide it. And then to report it to the people, to confront them with it, like a whiplash that will cause wounds but will free the mind from the various fantasies and escapist fare that the Establishment pollutes our minds with." - Lino Brocka

Two decades and people power revolutions after National Artist Lino Brocka uttered these words as part of his speech entitled “Artist as Citizen”, the need for Filipino artists to wield their pens, brushes and cameras as instruments in support of social and political movements that take the side of the “violated, abused, opressed, dehumanized” remains.

In June 2007, film artists involved with the Free Jonas Burgos Movement and Cinekatipunan conceptualized a project that aims to engage filmmakers to independently produce public service advertisements that delve on human rights issues including enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, curtailment of press freedom and the plight of political detainees. By September, 13 independent filmmakers, namely, Pam Miras, Mike Dagnalan, Sunshine Matutina, Kiri Dalena, King Catoy, RJ Mabilin, Jon Red, Paolo Villaluna, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, Nino Tagaro, John Torres, JL Burgos and Sigfreid Barros Sanchez, have produced 17 public service advertisements and short works that are now known as the omnibus film titled RIGHTS.

On September 20, the filmmakers received news from the Independent Filmmakers Cooperative (IFC) that the Movie, Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB) exercised full censorial powers and declared RIGHTS not for public viewing ("X”). In a letter dated September 19 addressed to the representative of the IFC and signed by the Chairperson of the MTRCB, Ma.Consoliza Laguardia, the MTRCB reasoned that "scenes in the film are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermines the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities, thus, not for public exhibition."

That a regulatory body such as the MTRCB possesses the power to lawfully censure political films such as “RIGHTS” and prohibit its public exhibition presents a problem that concerns not only the independent filmmakers but the general public. The criterion in Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1986 empowers the MTRCB to arbitrarily quell dissenting opinion and
criticism towards government and duly constituted authorities. It violates freedom of speech, artistic and intellectual expression and the right of the people to access information on matters of public concern, a basic right that is protected in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

That RIGHTS was censured on the eve of the 35th Anniversary of the official Proclamation of Martial Law is a disturbing affirmation that remnants of a dictatorship that prevailed and forcibly silenced scores of artists and journalists during one of the darkest chapters of our country’s history have not fully and truly been exorcised. It is a reminder for artists to be vigilant in upholding the freedoms that earlier generations of artists and cultural activists fought for.

We, as filmmakers call upon all artists continue to work with integrity, independence and love for the Filipino people. As citizens it is our responsibility to criticize and point our cameras at people in government, elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other duly constituted authorities who have abused their power and failed in their duty to serve and protect the Filipino people. We will not bend to the will of those who wish to censor our artworks for the convenience of the few and the powerful.