Iglesia Ni Cristo vs. Court of Appeals Case Digest

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I'esi I'esi## ni Cristo Cristo #s # teevi teevisio sionn pro'r# pro'r#*. *. Te pro'r# pro'r#* * presen presents ts #n$ prop#' prop#'#te #tess its rei'i rei'io+s o+s eieeie-s, s, $otrin $otrines es #n$ pr#ti pr#ties es o-ten o-ten ti*es ti*es in o*p#r#tive st+$ies /it oter rei'ions.So*eti*e in &001, petitioner s+*itte$ to te respon$ent Bo#r$ o- Revie/ -or "otion Pit+res #n$ Teevision te TR t#pes o- its T pro'r#* /i te Bo#r$ #ssi-ie$ #s 2 or not -or p+i vie/in' on te 'ro+n$ t#t te3 o--en$ #n$ onstit+te #n #tt#4 #'#inst oter rei'ions /i is e5press3 proiite$ 3 #/.

#s te p#rties p#rties trie$ to re# #n #*i#e #or$. #or$. Teir e--orts e--orts -#ie$ #n$ te reor$s so/ t#t #-ter s+*ission o- *e*or#n$#, te tri# o+rt ren$ere$ # =+$'*ent or$erin' respon$ent Bo#r$ to 'r#nt petitioner I'esi# ni Cristo te neess#r3 per*it -or # te series o- An' I'esi# ni Cristo pro'r#*. Petitioner  I'esi# ni Cristo, o/ever, is $irete$ to re-r#in -ro* o--en$in' #n$ #tt#4in' oter e5istin' rei'ions in so/in' An' I'esi# ni Cristo pro'r#*.

Petitioner pr#3e$ (#) -or te $eetion o- te seon$ p#r#'r#p o- te $ispositive portion o- te Deision6 Petitioner I'(esi# ni Cristo, )o/ever, )o/ever, is $irete$ to re-r#in -ro* o--en$in'  #n$ #tt#4in' ot)er ot)er e5istin' re(i'ions in s)o/in' An' I'(esi# ni Cristo pro'r#*. #n$ () -or te Bo#r$ to e perpet+#3 en7oine$ -ro* re8+irin' petitioner to s+*it -or  revie/ te t#pes o- its pro'r#*.

Petitioner #ppe#e$ to te O--ie o- te Presi$ent te #ssi-i#tion o- its T Series. It s+ee$e$ in its #ppe#. O--ie o- te Presi$ent reverse$ te $eision o- te respon$ent Bo#r$.

 Petitioner #so -ie$ #'#inst te respon$ent Bo#r$ Civi C#se /it te RTC. Petitioner #e'e$ t#t te respon$ent Bo#r$ #te$ /ito+t 7+ris$ition or /it 'r#ve #+se o- $isretion in re8+irin' petitioner to s+*it te TR t#pes o- its T pro'r#* #n$ in 59r#tin' te*.

Te Bo#r$ invo4e$ its po/er +n$er P.D. No. &0:; in re#tion to Artie 1<& o- te Revise$ Pen# Co$e. On =#n+#r3 >, &00?, te tri# o+rt e$ # )e#rin' on petitioners@ pr#3er -or #  /rit o- pre(i*in#r3 in7+ntion . Te p#rties or#3 #r'+e$ #n$ ten *#r4e$ teir  $o+*ent#r3 evi$ene. A-ter ev#+#tin' te evi$ene o- te p#rties, te tri# o+rt iss+e$ # /rit o- prei*in#r3 in7+ntion on petitioners on$ o- P&<,<<<.<<.

Respon Respon$en $entt Te respon respon$en $entt Bo#r$ Bo#r$ oppose oppose$$ te *otion *otion..

CA reverse$ te tri# o+rt. It r+e$ t#t6 (&) te respon respon$en $entt o#r$ o#r$ #s 7+ris$ 7+ris$it ition ion #n$ po/er po/er to revie/ revie/ te T pro'r#* An' I'esi# ni Cristo, #n$ (1) te respon$ent Bo#r$ $i$ not #t /it 'r#ve #+se oo- $isretion /en it $enie$ per*it -or te e5iition on T o- te tree series series o- An' I'esi# ni Cristo on te 'ro+n$ t#t te *#teri#s onstit+te #n #tt#4 #'#inst #noter rei'ion. It #so -o+n$ te series in$eent, ontr#r3 to #/ #n$ ontr#r3 to 'oo$ +sto*s.

!HET !HETHER HER OR NOT NOT THE THE HONO HONORAB RABLE LE COUR COURT T OF AP APPE PEAL ALS S ERRED IN HOLDING HOLDING THAT ANG IGLESIA NI CRISTO PROGRA" PROGRA" IS NOT CONSTITUTIONALL PROTECTED AS A FOR" OF RELIGIOUS E2ERCISE AND E2PRESSION.

Te tri# o+rt set te pre9tri#( o- t)e #se  #n$   #n$ te p#rties s+*itte$ teir pre9 tri# tri# rie rie-s -s.. Te tri# o- te #se /#s set #n$ reset sever# ti*es

!HET !HETHER HER OR NOT NOT THE THE HONO HONORAB RABLE LE COUR COURT T OF AP APPE PEAL ALS S ERRE ERRED D IN NOT NOT HOLD HOLDIN ING G THA THAT BE BEIN ING G AN E2 E2ER ERCI CISE SE OF

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RELIGIOUS FREEDO", THE ANG IGLESIA NI CRISTO PROGRA" IS SUB=ECT TO THE POLICE PO!ER OF THE STATE ONL IN THE E2 E2TR TRE"E E"E CASE CASE THAT THAT IT POSES POSES A CLEAR CLEAR AND PRES PRESEN ENT T DANGER.

!HET !HETHER HER OR NOT NOT THE THE HONO HONORA RABL BLE E COUR COURT T OF AP APPEA PEALS LS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE "TRCB IS ESTED !ITH THE PO!ER TO CENSOR RELIGIOUS PROGRA"S.

!HET !HETHER HER OR NOT NOT THE THE HONO HONORA RABL BLE E COUR COURT T OF AP APPEA PEALS LS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE ANG IGLESIA NI CRI STO, A PUREL RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS PROGRA" IS INDECENT INDECENT AND CONTRAR CONTRAR TO LA!  AND GOOD CUSTO"S.

#n$or teevision ro#$#st o- 5 5 5 teevision pro'r#*s 5 5 5. Te #/ #so $irets te Bo#r$ to #pp3 onte*por#r3 Fiipino +t+r# v#+es #s st#n$#r$ to $eter*ine tose /i #re o7etion#e -or ein' i**or#, in$eent, ontr#r3 to #/ #n$or  'oo$ +sto*s, in7+rio+s to te presti'e o- te Rep+i o- te Piippines #n$ its peope, or /it # $#n'ero+s ten$en3 to eno+r#'e te o**ission o- vioene or o-  # /ron' or ri*e.

Te ter* teevision teevision pro'r#* pro'r#* so+$ so+$ not in+$e rei'io+s rei'io+s pro'r#*s pro'r#*s i4e its pro' pro'r# r#* *  An' I'(esi# ni Cristo . It /i ontr#v ontr#vene ene Setion Setion , Artie Artie III o- te Constit+tion /i '+#r#ntees t#t no #/ s# e *#$e respetin' #n est#is*ent o- rei'ion, or proiitin' te -ree e5erise tereo-. Te -ree e5erise #n$ en7o3*ent o- rei'io+s pro-ession #n$ /orsip, /it o+t $isri*in#tion or pre-erene, s# -orever  e #o/e$.

(&) !et !eter er te respon respon$en $entt Bo#r$ Bo#r$ #s te po/er po/er to revie/ revie/ petitio petitioner nerss T pro'r#* An' I'esi# ni Cristo

(1) Ass+*in' Ass+*in' it #s te po/er, /eter /eter it 'r#ve3 'r#ve3 #+se$ its $isretion $isretion /en /en it proiite$ te #irin' o- petitioners rei'io+s pro'r#*, series Nos. &&, &&0 #n$ &1&, -or te re#son t#t te3 onstit+te #n #tt#4 #'#inst oter rei'ions #n$ t#t te3 #re in$eent, ontr#r3 to #/ #n$ 'oo$ +sto*s.

.!e re7et petitioner@s petitioner@s s+*ission /i nee$ not set +s #$ri-t in # onstit+tion# vo3#'e to/#r$s #n +n#rte$ se#. Free$o* o- rei'ion #s een #or$e$ # pre-erre$ st#t+s 3 te -r#*ers o- o+r -+n$#*ent# #/s, p#st #n$ present. !e #ve #--ir*e$ tis pre-erre$ st#t+s /e #/#re t#t it is $esi'ne$ to protet te ro#$est possie iert3 o-  onsiene, to #o/ e# *#n to eieve #s is onsiene $irets, to pro-ess is eie-s, #n$ to ive #s e eieves e o+'t to ive, onsistent /it te iert3 o- oters #n$ /it te o**on 'oo$. !e #ve #so #orio+s3 $e-ine$ in o+r 7+rispr+$ene te intersetin' +*r#s #n$ pen+*r#s o- te ri't to rei'io+s pro-ession #n$ /orsip. To 8+ote t)e s+**#tion o- "r. =+stie Is#'#ni Cr+H, o+r /e((94no/n onstit+tion#(ist 

#s # .Te #/ 'ives te Bo#r$ te po/er to sreen, revie/ #n$ e5#*ine # teevision pro'r#*s.  B3 te e#r ter*s o- te #/, te Bo#r$ #s te po/er to #pprove, $eete 5 5 5 #n$or proiit te 5 5 5 e5iition

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(&) Free$o* to Beieve Te in$ivi in$ivi$+# $+# is -ree -ree to eiev eievee (or $ise $iseiev ieve) e) #s e pe#se pe#sess oner onernin nin'' te ere#-ter. He *#3 in$+'e is o/n teories #o+t i-e #n$ $e#t /orsip #n3 'o$ e ooses, or none #t # e*r#e or re7et #n3 rei'ion #4no/e$'e te $ivinit3 o-  Go$ or o- #n3 ein' t#t #ppe#s to is reverene reo'nie or $en3 te i**ort#it3 o- is so+ in -#t, eris #n3 rei'io+s onvition #s e #n$ e #one sees -it. Ho/ever #s+r$ is eie-s *#3 e to oters, even i- te3 e ostie #n$ ereti# to te *#7orit3, e #s -+ -ree$o* to eieve #s e pe#ses. He *#3 not e re8+ire$ to prove is eie-s. He *#3 not e p+nise$ -or is in#iit3 to $o so. Rei'ion, #-ter #, is # *#tter o- -#it. "en *#3 eieve /#t te3 #nnot prove. Ever3one #s # ri't to is eie-s #n$ e *#3 not e #e$ to #o+nt e#+se e #nnot prove /#t e eieves. (1) Free$o* to At on Ones Beie-s

. As 're#t #s tis iert3 *#3 e, rei'io+s -ree$o*, i4e # te oter ri'ts '+#r#ntee$ in te Constit+tion, #n e en7o3e$ on3 /it # proper re'#r$ -or te ri'ts o- oters. . Te inerent poie po/er #n e e5erise$ to prevent rei'io+s pr#ties ini*i# to soiet3. An$ tis is tr+e even i- s+ pr#ties #re p+rs+e$ o+t o- sinere rei'io+s onvition #n$ not *ere3 -or te p+rpose o- ev#$in' te re#son#e re8+ire*ents or  proiitions o- te #/.

!e t+s re7et petitioners post+#te t#t its rei'io+s rei'io+s pro'r#* pro'r#* is e3on$ e3on$ revie/ revie/ 3 te respon$en respon$entt Bo#r$. Bo#r$. Its p+i p+i ro#$#st on T o- its rei'io+s pro'r#* rin's it o+t o- te oso* o- intern# eie-. Teevision is # *e$i+* t#t re#es even te e3es #n$ e#rs o- i$ren. Te Co+rt iter#tes te r+e t#t te e5erise o- rei'io+s -ree$o* #n e re'+#te$ 3 te St#te /en it /i rin' #o+t te e#r #n$ present $#n'er o- so*e s+st#ntive evi /i te St#te is $+t3 o+n$ to prevent, i.e., serio+s $etri*ent to te *ore overri$in' interest o- p+i e#t, p+i *or#s, or p+i /e-#re.

CA 'r#ve3 erre$ /en it #--ir*e$ te r+in' o- te respon$ent Bo#r$ 59r#tin' its T Pro'r#* Series. Te reor$s so/ t#t te respon$ent Bo#r$ $is#o/e$ te pro'r#* series -or #tt#4in' oter rei'ions. Te respon$ent #ppe#te o+rt #'ree$ #n$ even e$ t#t te s#i$ #tt#4s #re in$eent, ontr#r3 to #/ #n$ 'oo$ +sto*s.

!e reverse te r+in' o- te #ppe#te o+rt. .Deep3 ensone$ in o+r -+n$#*ent# #/ is its ostiit3 #'#inst # prior restr#ints on spee, in+$in' rei'io+s spee. Hene, #n3 #t t#t restr#ins spee is oe$ 3 te pres+*ption o- inv#i$it3 #n$ so+$ e 'reete$ /it -+rro/e$ ro/s. It is te +r$en o- te respon$ent Bo#r$ to overtro/ tis pres+*ption. I- it -#i s to $is#r'e tis +r$en, its #t o- ensorsip /i e str+4 $o/n. It -#i e$ in te #se #t #r. .Te .Te evi$ene evi$en e so so/s /s t# t#tt te res respon pon$en $entt Bo# Bo#r$ r$ 59r 59r#te #te$$ pet petitio itioner nerss T ser series ies -or  #tt#4in' oter rei'ions, espei#3 te C#toi +r . An e5#*in#tion o- te evi$ene, espei#3 E5iits A, A9&, B, C, #n$ D /i so/ t#t te so9#e$ #tt#4s #re *ere ritiis*s o- so*e o- te $eep3 e$ $o'*#s #n$ tenets o- oter  rei'ions. Te vi$eot#pes /ere not vie/e$ 3 te respon$ent o+rt #s te3 /ere not presente$ presente$ #s evi$ene. evi$ene. et te3 /ere onsi$ere$ onsi$ere$ 3 te respon$ent respon$ent o+rt #s in$eent, in$eent, ontr#r3 ontr#r3 to #/ #n$ 'oo$ +sto*s, +sto*s, ene, ene, #n e proiite$ proiite$ -ro* p+i vie/in' vie/in' +n$er Setion ?() o- PD &0:;. &0:;. Tis r+in' e#r3 s+ppresses petitioner@s -ree$o* o- spee #n$ inter-eres /it its ri't to - ree e5erise o- rei'ion. T)e respon$ent Bo#r$ *#3 $is#'ree /it) t)e ritiis*s o- ot)er re(i'ions 3  petitioner +t t)#t 'ives it no e5+se to inter$ petitioner inter$it it s+) ritii ritiis*s, s*s, )o/ever, )o/ever, +n(e#n t)e3 *#3 e. Un$er o+r onstit+tion#( s)e*e, it is not t)e t#s4 o- t)e  St#te St# te to -#v -#vor or #n3 re(i'ion re(i'ion 3 pro prote tetin' tin' it #'# #'#ins instt #n #tt #tt#4 #4 3 #no #not)e t)er  r  re(i'ion. Re(i'io+s re(i'ion.  Re(i'io+s $o'*#s #n$ e(ie-s #re o-ten #t /#r #n$ to preserve pe#e  #*on' t)eir -o((o/ers, -o((o/ers, espei#((3 t)e -#n#tis, -#n#tis, t)e est#(is)*e est#(is)*ent nt (#+se (#+se o-  -ree$o* o- re(i'ion pro)iits t)e St#te -ro* (e#nin' to/#r$s #n3 re(i'ion. is9#9  vis re(i'io+s $i--erenes, t)e St#te en7o3s no #n8+et o- options. Ne+tr#(it3 #(one  is its -i5e$ #n$ i**ov#(e st#ne. In -ine, respon$ent o#r$ #nnot s8+e() t)e 

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spee) o- petiti spee) petitioner oner I'(esi# ni Cristo si*p(3 e#+se e#+se it #tt# #tt#4s 4s ot)er re(i'i re(i'ions, ons, even i- s#i$ re(i'ion )#ppens to e t)e *ost n+*ero+s )+r) in o+r o+ntr3.  In #  St#te /)ere t)ere o+')t to e no $i--erene et/een t)e #ppe#r#ne #n$ t)e  re#(it3 re#(it3 o- -ree$o -ree$o* * o- re(i'i re(i'ion, on, t)e re*e$3 re*e$3 #'#inst #'#inst #$ t)eo(o'3 t)eo(o'3 is etter  etter  t)eo(o'3. T)e e$ro4 o- -ree$o* o- re(i'ion is -ree$o* o- t)o+')t #n$ it is est  serve$ 3 eno+r#'in' t)e *#r4etp(#e o- $+e(in' i$e#s. !)en t)e (+5+r3 o-  ti*e per*its, t)e *#r4etp(#e o- i$e#s $e*#n$s t)#t spee) s)o+($ e *et 3  *ore spee) -or it is t)e sp#r4 o- opposite spee), t)e )e#t o- o((i$in' i$e#s  t)#t #n -#n t)e e*ers o- tr+t).  Te respon$ents #nnot #so re3 on te 'ro+n$ 'ro+n$ #tt#4 #tt#4ss #'#ins #'#instt #note #noterr rei'io rei'ionn in 59r#ti 59r#tin' n' te rei'i rei'io+s o+s pro'r# pro'r#* * o-  petitioner. Even # si$e '#ne #t Setion ? o- PD &0:; /i reve# t#t it is not #*on' te 'ro+n$s to 7+sti-3 #n or$er proiitin' te ro#$#st o- petitioners teevision pro'r#*. pro'r#*. Te 'ro+n$ 'ro+n$ #tt#4 #tt#4 #'#inst #'#inst #noter #noter rei'ion rei'ion /#s *ere3 #$$e$ 3 te respon$en respon$entt Bo#r$ in its R+es. Tis r+e is voi$ -or it r+ns s*#4 #'#inst #'#inst te o#r3 o#r3 $otrine t#t #$*inistr#tive r+es #n$ re'+#tions #nnot e5p#n$ te etter #n$ spirit o- te #/ te3 see4 to en-ore. It is opine$ t#t te respon$ent o#r$ #n sti +tiie #tt#4 #'#inst #n3 rei'ion #s # 'ro+n$ #e'e$3 5 5 5 e#+se Setion ? () o- PD &0:; proiits te so/in' o-  *otion pit+res, teevision pro'r#*s #n$ p+iit3 *#teri#s /i #re ontr#r3 to #/ #n$ Artie 1<& (1) () (?) o- te Revise$ Pen# Co$e p+nises #n3one /o e5iits so/s /i  #n3 r#e or rei'ion. !e respet-+3 $is#'ree -or it is p#in t#t te /or$ #tt#4 is not s3non3*o+s /it te /or$ o--en$. "oreover, Artie 1<& (1) () (?) o- te Revise$ Revise$ Pen# Pen# Co$e Co$e so+$ so+$ e invo4e invo4e$$ to 7+sti-3 7+sti-3 te  o- # so/ /i o--en$s #n3 rei'ion. It #nnot e +tiie$ to 7+sti-3  o- spee. It *+st e e*p#sie$ t#t E.O. :J;, te #/ prior to PD &0:;, in+$e$ #tt#4 #'#inst #n3 rei'ion #s # 'ro+n$ -or ensorsip. Te 'ro+n$ /#s not, o/ever, #rrie$ over 3 PD &0:;. Its $eetion is # $eree to $is+se it. Tere #n e no oter intent. In$ee$, In$ee$, even te E5e+tive E5e+tive Dep#rt*ent Dep#rt*ent espo+ses espo+ses tis vie/. T+s, in #n Opinion $#te$ Nove*er 1:, &0: ten "inister o- =+stie, no/ Presi$ent o- te Sen#te, Nept#i Gon#es e5p#ine$6 555 Ho/ever, te 8+estion /eter te BR"PT (no/ "TRCB) *#3 previe/ #n$ ensor  te s+7et teevision pro'r#* o- INC so+$ e vie/e$ in te i't o- te provision o-  Setion ?, p#r#'r#p () o- PD &0:;, /i is s+st#nti#3 te s#*e #s te provision o- Setion ?, p#r#'r#p () o- E.O. No. :J;9A, /i presries te st#n$#r$s o- 

ensorsip, to /it6 i**or#, in$eent, ontr#r3 to #/ #n$or 'oo$ +sto*s, in7+rio+s to te presti'e o- te Rep+i o- te Piippines or its peope or /it $#n'ero+s ten$en3 to eno+r#'e te o**ission o- vioene, or o- # /ron' #s $eter*ine$ 3 te Bo#r$, #pp3in' onte*por#r3 Fiipino +t+r# v#+es #s st#n$#r$. As st#te$, te intention o- te Bo#r$ to s+7et te INCs teevision pro'r#* to previe/in' #n$ ensorsip is pro*pte$ 3 te -#t t#t its rei'io+s pro'r#* *#4es *ention o- eie-s #n$ pr#ties o- oter rei'ion. On t)e -#e o- t)e (#/ itse(-, t)ere #n oneiv#(3 e  no #sis -or ensors)ip o- s#i$ pro'r#* 3 t)e Bo#r$ #s *+) #s t)e #((e'e$ re#son  ite$ 3 t)e Bo#r$ $oes not #ppe#r t o e /it)in t)e onte*p(#tion o- t)e st#n$#r$s o-  ensors)ip set 3 (#/. (It#is (#/.  (It#is s+ppie$)  In 59r#tin' te T pro'r#* pro'r#* o- te petitioner, petitioner, te respon$ents -#ie$ to #pp3 te e#r #n$ present $#n'er r+e . In A*eri#n In A*eri#n Bi(e Soiet3 v. Cit3 o- "#ni(# , K11  tis Co+rt e$6 Te onstit+tion# '+#r#nt3 o- -ree e5erise #n$ en7o3*ent o-  rei'io+s pro-ession #n$ /orsip #rries /it it te ri't to $isse*in#te rei'io+s in-or*#tion. An3 restr#int o- s+ ri't #n e 7+sti-ie$ i4e oter restr#ints on - ree$o* o- e5pression on te 'ro+n$ t#t tere is #  o- #n3 s+st#ntive evi /i te St#te #s te ri't to prevent.

 Te reor$s so/ t#t te $eision o- te respon$ent Bo#r$, #--ir*e$ 3 te respon$ent #ppe#te o+rt, is o*pete3  to 7+sti-3 te  t#t te s+7et vi$eo t#pes onstit+te i*per*issie #tt#4s #'#inst #noter rei'ion. Tere is no so/in' /#tsoever o- te  te t#pes /i rin' #o+t espei#3 te 'r#vit 'r#vit33 #n$ i**ine i**inene ne o- te tre#t tre#tene ene$$ #r*. #r*.

.

, te Deision o- te respon$ent Co+rt o- Appe#s $#te$ "#r 1>, &00 is #--ir*e$ inso-#r #s it s+st#ine$ te 7+ris$ition o- te respon$ent "TRCB to revie/ petitioners T pro'r#* entite$ An' I'esi# ni Cristo, #n$ is reverse$ #n$ set #si$e inso-#r #s it s+st#ine$ te #tion o- te respon$ent "TRCB 59 r#tin' petitioners T Pro'r#* Series Nos. &&, &&0, #n$ &1&. No osts.

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