D E C I S I O
N
PUNO, J.:
I.
THE FACTS
Several pre-taped episodes of the TV program “Ang Iglesia ni Cristo” of the
religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) were rated “X” – i.e., not for public viewing – by the respondent Board of Review for Moving Pictures and Television (now
MTRCB). These TV programs allegedly
“offend[ed] and constitute[d] an attack against other religions which is
expressly prohibited by law” because of petitioner INC’s
controversial biblical interpretations and its “attacks” against contrary
religious beliefs.
Petitioner INC went to court to
question the actions of respondent Board. The RTC ordered the respondent Board
to grant petitioner INC the necessary permit for its TV programs. But on appeal
by the respondent Board, the CA reversed the RTC. The CA ruled that: (1) the
respondent Board has jurisdiction and power to review the TV program “Ang
Iglesia ni Cristo,” and (2) the respondent Board did not act with
grave abuse of discretion when it denied permit for the exhibition on TV of the
three series of “Ang Iglesia ni Cristo” on the ground that the
materials constitute an attack against another religion. The CA also found the
subject TV series “indecent, contrary to law and contrary to good customs.”
Dissatisfied with the CA decision, petitioner INC appealed to the Supreme
Court.
