The Cebu City Council will hold a public hearing today on the proposed amendment to an ordinance that would expand the authority of the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB).
Councilor Leah Japson, proponent of the amendatory ordinance, said “public opinion will serve as a guide for the council in deciding whether or not we should pass the amendatory ordinance.”
Among those invited to the public hearing are the Cebu Citizens Press Council (CCPC) as well as bookstore owners.
If the amendatory ordinance gets approved, CAIB will be authorized to conduct inspections on bookstores and confiscate items which they consider as lewd even without a court order.
CAIB will also have an expanded list of unlawful acts that would include the display and sales of reading materials that contain sensual and sexual stories and photos.
The Cebu Media Legal Aid (CEMLA) consider CAIB’s expanded powers as questionable.
“We will note all the comments made during the public hearing and consider these during the final deliberation of the ordinance,” Japson said.