MTRCB cannot act on Duterte's curses during press cons

Metro Manila — The government's broadcasting regulatory body has no way of stopping President-elect Rodrigo Duterte from spewing invectives during live news coverages.
Chairman Eugenio Villareal of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) made the clarification in response to queries from the media asking about Duterte's latest evening presser wherein he uttered numerous "F" words and "P.I." (Filipino cuss expression, roughly translated to "son of a b----"). 

In a statement  released Friday, Villareal said the MTRCB's jurisdiction did not cover live media briefings or press conferences, as well as straight news reporting.
Citing Section 7, Presidential Decree No. 1986, he said the law intended "to give premium to the right to free speech and expression, and freedom of the press as well as the public's right to information."

Villareal added that as a matter of policy, the MTRCB respected and supported the right, as well as duty of television networks to self-regulate in regard to straight news.
"The MTRCB notes that both the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and individual networks have their own self-regulatory and ethical guidelines for the purpose," he said.

However, the MTRCB makes an effort to help television networks "by lending academic or expert resources for talks and conferences, and increasing public awareness through the agency's Matalinong Panonood campaign."

Villareal also clarified that this did not include public or current affairs programs, which he said were under the MTRCB's jurisdiction.

Leni on Rody

Meanwhile, Vice President-elect Leni Robredo said she would fully support the incoming President but added that there was a need for "constant vigilance and circumspection to avoid raising any unnecessary concern, particularly over issues as sensitive as the murder of journalists and the treatment of women in our society."

Robredo said she continued to be reassured by the President-elect's repeated assertions that he would uphold the rule of law — citing Duterte's record of promoting women's rights during his term as Davao City mayor.

"I hope that these commitments will be more clearly reflected in his public pronouncements," she said. via CNN ph