THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has found no basis to ban the movie “Barbie” over a supposed depiction of China’s nine-dash-line map.
In a letter to Sen. Francis Tolentino, the MTRCB said the review committee had given the film a parental guidance rating- which means viewers below 13 must be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.
“The MTRCB is firm, as per its mandate under Presidential Decree No. 1986, that when there is a clear portrayal in films/television of scenes injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines such as the ‘nine-dash line’ we will not hesitate to ban said materials,” the board said.
“Conversely, if the material does not pose such a threat then, in the spirit of fairness and objectivity, we will not impose a ban on such materials,” it added.
“The Board believes that all things considered, it has no basis to ban the film ‘Barbie’ as there is no clear nor outright depiction of the ‘nine-dash line’ in the subiect film, in comparison to films such as ‘Abominable’ and ‘Uncharted’,” the board said.
The letter sent to Tolentino was signed by MTRCB chairman Lala Sotto-Antonio and the members of the review committee—Malou Choa-Fagar, Katrina Angela Ebarle, and Jennifer Seares.
