Pastors, preachers file class suit vs men's mag execs

MANILA, Philippines - A group of pastors and preachers belonging to different churches in Metro Manila on Monday filed criminal complaints against editors and publishers of popular men’s magazines and so-called smut tabloids before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office. The group was led by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, a pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and a staunch anti-smut campaigner. Charged in the joint complaint affidavit were Ramon Faustino, editor-in-chief; Vince Sales, managing editor; Clarissa Palomo, circulation manager, all of the local version of Playboy magazine; Allan Madridejos, Allan Hernandez and Glenda Gil of FHM; Pierre Inaki Calasans, Beting Dolor, Thema Sioson San Juan and Rina Lareza of Maxim; Zak Zorro Zamora, Dexter Manila, Deo Alvarez, Norie Villanueva of Playhouse. Also named as respondents were smut tabloid officers Editha Asumbrado, Lun Panus, and Mae Mai Gener of Sagad; Gloria Galuno and Edwin Alcala of Hataw; and Joe Dalde of Toro. Lance Gokongwei and Lisa Gokongwei Cheng, chairman of the board and president of Summit Publishing, respectively; and Eugenio Lopez, Ernesto Lopez and Thelma San Juan, chairman of the board, president and general manager of ABS-CBN Publishing Inc., respectively, were also named as accused in the criminal complaint. The group accused the respondents of grave scandal and obscene publication. The respondents were also slapped with violation of Ordinance No. 7780 of the City of Manila, which prohibits the printing publication, sale, distribution and exhibition of obscene and pornographic acts and materials. The group said the magazines and tabloids violated anti-pornography laws for containing “obscene, erotic, indecent, or lewd pictures/poses that show, depict, exhibit, or describe nude or semi nude bodies sexual acts, sexual intercourse, private parts of the human body of both male and female, with no educational, artistic, cultural or scientific value.” “Such portions/pages of the said magazines and tabloids are clearly scandalous, obscene and pornographic within the meaning and in violation of Articles 200 and 201 of the Revised Penal Code,” the group said in their complaint. Abante said this will be the first time that a class suit will be filed against the said magazines and tabloids. Conceding that they are going against some of the most influential people in the industry with the filing of the class suit, Abante said he is hoping that there are still judges “who have the moral conscience” to look into their complaint. The other complainants in the case were Pastro Pio Tica, Malabon International Baptist Church; Gerardo Nable, Bethany Baptist Church; Boanerge Andaya, People’s Baptist Church; Reuben Abante, Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church; Jose Francisco Sauco, Bible Baptist Church; Manuel Orara, Maranatha International Baptist Church; Nemuel Lesada, Calvary Baptist church; Efren Padua, Moriah Baptist Bible Church; Smauel Sandoval, Living Bread Baptist Church; Silvano Allorin, Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Robert Malit, Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church. - GMANews.TV