MANILA, Philippines -- A group of pastors led by Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante filed charges of grave scandal and obscene publication against seven magazines and tabloids for supposed pornographic content.
Abante and 11 other pastors of the Baptist organization Bible Mode sued the publishers of the magazines FHM, Maxim, Playboy Philippines, Playhouse, and tabloids Sagad, Hataw and Baliktaran Toro, in a joint affidavit filed at the City Prosecutor's Office around 10:30 a.m. Monday.
The complaint said the publications, from September 2007 to July 2008, showed "obscene and erotic pictures/poses that show, depict or describe nude or semi-nude bodies, sexual acts, sexual intercourse [and] private parts, with no educational, artistic value, intended to draw lust and arouse prurient interest."
Abante said they hoped to put a stop to the magazines and tabloids for the benefit of minors they said are corrupted by the publications.
The group also charged the publications for violation of Manila’s anti-pornography city ordinance no. 7780, which Abante authored when he was a councilor in 1993.
