MTRCB reclassifies 'Alipato at Muog' to R-16 after second review
The Media and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has reclassified the documentary film, Alipato at Muog from X rating to R-16 after its second review.
After holding a protest in front of the MTRCB office on Sept. 5, Burgos announced that he and his team were able to overturn the agency’s initial decision to give the docu-film an X rating.
“Nais kong ibalita sa inyo na malaking tagumpay sa mga mamamayan, sa mga kumilos para sa katotohanan at katarungan: Inalis po ng MTRCB, ng second reviewers ang X rating ng Alipato at Muog,” he said in the video posted on the film’s page.
The protest was led by Burgos and was joined by other artists and members of different organizations.
“Ang kwento sa amin ay sila ay tinamaan sa puso ng pelikulang ito; Sila ay nanindigan din ng katotohanan at katarungan,” Burgos continued, adding that the agency reclassified the film as R-16, which means it is now allowed to be releases in mainstream cinemas.
He added that they have yet to receive the official document lifting the X rating for the film.
Burgos thanked the MTRCB and others who extended their support amid their call to lift the X rating.
In his speech following the new decision, Burgos stressed that people, especially those in the industry, must stay “vigilant” and continue defending their freedom of expression.
“Hindi natatapos ang pag-aalis ng X rating sa ating kalayaan sa pagpapahayag, dahil ang mga pelikulang katulad ng Alipato at Muog ay hindi naman natatapos sa araw na ito; Marami pang ibang pelikula na magtatalakay sa kung anong nangyayari sa lipunan, ibig sabihin, kailangan natin maging vigilant at kailangan natin panindigan na ang pagba-ban ng isang pelikula ay paglabag sa kalayaan nating magpahayag,” he said.
This comes after MTRCB chair Lala Sotto-Antonio defended the agency’s decision to give the film an X rating.
During the Senate finance subcommittee's hearing on MTRCB's proposed budget for 2025, Sotto said they did not breach the right to freedom of expression as they have given an exemption permit for the documentary film's public exhibition during this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival and did not prohibit them from conducting academic film showings.
“We have a law to follow, it [the film] has been found to be violative,” Sotto-Antonio said, adding that it “tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government” as indicated in the PD No. 1986.
‘Our documentary is not fiction’
Following the Senate hearing, Burgos refuted claims made by the MTRCB chair. He clarified that the screening and the PG rating during this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival was due to an "agreement between Cinemalaya and the MTRCB for self-rating."
"The Cinemalaya Festival PG rating of 'Alipato at Muog' is self-rated,” he wrote in his Facebook post. “It is not the MTRCB who gave the rating.”
Burgos further said that MTRCB does not have jurisdiction over screening films in State Universities and Colleges.
"In fact, all State Universities and Colleges are independent of MTRCB. Which means the MTRCB CANNOT stop such screenings. So citing these screenings as NOT CURTAILMENT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION is not accurate - the MTRCB did not allow such screenings, they simply don't have jurisdiction in theaters inside SUCs," Burgos stressed.
He also disclosed the content of their appeal to the review board, including the enumeration of the points they want to clarify, including the mentioned subversiveness and the tag of the film being “leftist.”
“In line with being left, may we know the definition of being LEFT? Are we penalizing a political belief here? Because again we will reiterate our stand that the documentary is not subversive at all and it is a basic right in a democratic country for victims of injustices to voice out their grievances,” Burgos wrote in the appeal.
“Our documentary is not fiction. It is a story of a family searching for their missing loved one. It is about human rights and the pursuit for justice,” he concluded.
Alipato at Muog tackles the abduction of the film director’s older brother, activist Jonas Burgos in 2007. It received a Special Jury Award for a full-length film last Cinemalaya film festival.