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'Obscene' publications face class action suit in Philippines
A religious denomination has filed a class action suit against several magazines it said were to blame for corrupting the youth.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:07 July 9, 2008
Manila: A religious denomination has filed a class action suit against several magazines it said were to blame for corrupting the youth.
Pastors and preachers of the conservative Baptist Christian sect on Monday moved a case of "grave scandal and publication of obscene materials" against executives of the Philippine edition of Playboy and two other equally popular magazines besides three local tabloids.
The case was lodged before the Manila Prosecutor's office by a group led by city councillor Bienvenido Abante, known for his conservative Christian views.
"This marks the first time that a class suit will be filed against these magazines and tabloids," Abante said in interviews aired by various television stations yesterday.
Top editorial staff of Playboy apart, editors and publishers of the magazines Maxim and FHM, as also local tabloids Sagad, Hataw and Toro, were named as respondents in the case.
Abante argued that distribution of the publications in Manila violated an ordinance that prohibited the printing, publication, sale, distribution and exhibition of obscene and pornographic acts and materials.
The complaint stated that the publications were promoting pornographic literature with "no educational, artistic, cultural or scientific value".
"The publications clearly ... intended... to... arouse prurient interest," the complaint filed by Abante's group said.
Test case
He said the class action suit would serve as a "test case" that would facilitate new laws against the publication of obscene material.
Earlier this year, Roman Catholic bishops had led mass protests against Playboy's arrival in the country.
The opposition to the magazine eventually lost steam and the popular men's publication finally came to be printed and published in the country.
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