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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, 1241 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Press freedom does not entail publishing materials offensive to society's 
moral standards, If the time-honored principle enshrined in the Constitution is 
allowed to go wayward toward this unwanted end, we can only expect a society 
governed by the basest of human moods and dispositions. A benchmark of 
decency must therefore be maintained if the freedom of the press is to be fully 
entrusted to media's responsibility. We cannot let go of any selfish acts designed 
to make profits for the media and their owners but inimical to society's interest. 
This bill seeks to prohibit the publication of lewd photographs and articles 
in newspapers- be they broadsheet or tabloid. This measure was conceptualized 
in view of the proliferation of newspapers seemingly designed not to report about 
the news but rather to disseminate obscene materials without any social 
relevance in the guise of press freedom. 
If only to ensure press fr~edom, this proposal does not seek the total ban 
of such materials. There is alWays a right place for everything. What is being 
avoided is the evolution of our dailies into a smut-dominated medium of 
information. We should keep those materials away from the easy perusal and 
consumption of the young if only to ensure a sane and morally-sound citizenry in 
the future. 
This legislative measure's, approval is timely, beneficial and necessary. 
MANNY V LLAR 


'., 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Sel'late Bill No.1241 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE PUBLICATION OF LEWD PHOTOGRAPHS AND SEX 
STORIES AND ARTICLES IN TABLOID AND BROADSHEET NEWSPAPERS, 
PROVIDING PENAL TIES THER'EFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The publication of lewd photographs and sex stories and 
articles in tabloid and broadsheet newspapers is hereby prohibited. 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. 
a. "Lewd photographs" as used in this Act shall include: 
1. All nude or scantily-dressed photographs of a woman or a man, or 
two or more members of the same or opposite sex, inviting 
indecent, vulgar, lustful and obscene interpretations from the 
reader; 
2. All photographs of a woman or a man, or two or more members of 
the same or opposite sex, simulating, engaged in or performing any 
sexual act includin~, but not limited to the following: 
A. copulation 
B. oral sex 
C. homosexual sex 
D. sodomy 
E. necrophilia 
F. pedophilia 
H. bestial sex 
I. masturbation 
I. display or use of known sexual devices 
3. Still photographs of movies whether domestic or foreign, having 
sexual contents, and previously or subsequently rated R or X by the 
MTRCB. 
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Provided: That such published photographs shall not have been 
captioned 
to 
promote any event of cultural, 
educational, 
entertainment or social significance. 
b. "Sex stories" as used in this Act shall include all columns, narrative and 
illustrated stories, and articles contained in newspapers graphically 
depicting any of the sexual acts enumerated in Sec. 2.a.2 of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Violators of this Act shall suffer the following penalties: 
a. The publisher and editors. of the newspaper shall be liable to a fine of not 
less than P50,000,000.00 nor more than 100,000.00 for the first offense. 
b. The publisher and editors of the newspaper shall be liable to a fine of not 
less than Pi 00,000.00 nor more than P200,000.00 and prison sentence of 
prision mayor for the second offense. The court shall also order the 
immediate closure of the publication. 
Provided: That when there are two or more: publishers of the newspaper, 
they shall be held solidarily liable. 
SEC. 4. All laws and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. - This Act shall ,take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) ne"Yspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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