SENATE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Emss 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 fhlly entrusted to media's responsibility. 
This is already contained in court rulings. We cannot let go of my selfish acts designed 
to rake profits for the media and their owners but inimical to society's interest. 
It is for this reason that this bill was field. It seeks to prohibit the publication of 
lewd photographs and atticles in newspapers- be they broadsheet or tabloid- 
This measure was conceptualized in view of the praliferation 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. Masked by 
amateurish efforts to give incisive and meaningfit1 views, the ody things that stmd out if 
you take a peek at them are their sex motivated columns and the equally explicit and 
demeaning photos of women enticing the reader to sexually fmtasize. Oftentimes, 
pictures of a man and a woman in the act of copulation are also featured. The rationale is 
obvious: sex sells and publishers do not mind if the publication is offensive as long as 
they a mass a fortune out of it. 
If only to ensure press fieedom, 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 sexually and morally-sound citizenry in the fhture. 
This legislative measure's approval is tknely,Jeneficial and necessary, 


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3. Still photographs of movies whether domestic or foreign, having sexual 
contents, and previously or subsequently rated R or X by the WRCB. 
Provi&d: 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 shdl 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 Gable to a fine of not less 
than PS0,OOO.OO nor more than100,000,00 for the first offense. 
b. The publisher and editors of the newspaper shall be liable to a- fine of not less 
than P100,000.00 nor more thm P200,000,00 and prison sentence of prision 
inayor foi-the second offense. The court shall also order the immediate 
closure of the publication. 
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Providkd: 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 upon its approval. 
Approved,