Public screening of Estrada film banned

Manila: Authorities have barred the public screening of a film about jailed ex-President Joseph Estrada even in parks after it was given an X-rating by a review board which also stopped it from being shown in theatres.

It was an apparent step by officials supporting President Gloria Arroyo to limit public exposure to a film that is likely to be used by Estrada to hit back at his former vice-president who successfully removed him from office in 2001.

The film is making the rounds of schools and private audiences.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza banned the showing of the Estrada film, citing the film board's rating. X-rated films are not allowed for public showing. Lawyers for Estrada are asking a court to issue an order lifting Atienza's ban order.

Estrada's media director Ferdie Ramos said the petition was filed yesterday afternoon and they are waiting for the judge to grant their request.

The film Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa (To live for the Masses) was also set to be shown to legislators yesterday.

On Wednesday, Minority Floor Leader and Estrada supporter Francis Escudero sought the postponement of deliberations on the Movie Television Review and Classification Board's budget until it could justify the X-rating it had given to Estrada's film.

"What I know of X-rated films are those DVDs and VCDs that are bold and indecent. Those that are bold are the pornographic films," said Escudero. "May I ask, in the DVD of former president Estrada, is there anything bold about that CD?"

Representative Joey Salceda, appropriations committee chairman in defending the MTRCB budget, answered in the negative.

But Salceda said that the film board gave it an X-rating because some scenes tended to threaten public stability, and undermine the state of confidence of the people in the government.

Salceda added the film also was libellous or defamatory to the good name of the people, and referred to matters that were already being disputed in court.