(MALAYA) SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada yesterday slammed a subscription-based video streaming service for the proliferation of and easy access to “vulgar, explicit, and pornographic content” online.
In a privilege speech, Estrada said Vivamax has gained attention for its “meaningful and family-oriented content” but is also known for “inundating the digital space with films and shows filled with graphic, sexual, and exploitative materials.”
“While I acknowledge the importance of artistic freedom and creative expression, these should come with boundaries, especially when they begin to undermine our society’s moral fabric. This situation is even more concerning because many of these materials are easily accessible and may target younger audiences who are more susceptible to influence,” Estrada said.
He said Vivamax, which is now known as VMX, is offering comedy, drama, romance, horror movies, and concerts, but subscribers have said that they see “sexy contents” at the site’s landing page.
Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code prohibits the distribution, exhibition, or sale of content which are deemed immoral, obscene, or indecent covering literature, films, music, artworks, performances, plays, scenes, acts, and shows.
The showing of explicit materials has a penalty of six years imprisonment, and fines ranging P20,000 to P200,000, and cancelation of the company’s license or permit.
Estrada said the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has already called the attention of Vivamax over the explicit shows and the latter has even assured the agency that it will self-regulate.
“Ngunit tila hindi tumutupad ang Vivamax sa kasunduang ito dahil sa isang monitoring ng isinagawa ng MTRCB, lumalabas na mga pelikulang pang-streaming platform ng kumpanya ay nababagay lamang sa porn sites (But it seems that Vivamax is not complying with the agreement because a monitoring done by the MTRCB showed that the movies shown in its streaming platforms are fit for porn sites),” he said.
Estrada said it has also come to his knowledge that the actresses who act in the explicit movies are being paid P15,000 a day for indecent exposures.
“Fifteen thousand pesos a day and in two days, they are able to make a full-length movie for the streaming platform. That’s why it does not come as a surprise that they can easily produce these kinds of films in such a short time,” he added in Filipino.