Film on Jonas gets an X; Burgos kin set to appeal

The family of Jonas Burgos on Thursday blasted the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTCRB) for rejecting a short film on human rights that was produced to press for the safe release of the missing activist. Jonas’s brother JL told GMANews.TV Thursday night that his family and their supporters will appeal the MTRCB decision Friday morning before holding a press conference at noon at the Newsdesk Café on Scout Tobias St. in Quezon City. According to JL, the 30-minute public service film on human rights with the title “Rights" has been rated X by the MTRCB following a review of its panel on September 18. On September 19, the Burgos family received a letter from MTRCB’s chief Ma. Consoliza Laguardia informing them that the board has found the short film unfit for public exhibition. Part of the letter read: “Scenes in this film are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermines the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities for public exhibition." JL said the short film, which is intended as a public service ad, contained 15 scenes made by independent filmmakers who are supporting calls for the immediate release of Jonas and other missing activists. Jonas was abducted in late April from a Quezon City mall by suspected military agents. The Court of Appeals has ordered the military to reveal the contents of its investigation on Jonas but government lawyers filed Wednesday a motion for reconsideration on the order.- GMANews.TV