The KBP issued on Monday, March 18, a show cause order to one of its members, the Brigada Media

Corporation, for alleged violation of the association's code of conduct. The order was issued by the

KBP Standards Authority, the KBP's code enforcement arm for its Broadcast Code.

 

The case stemmed from the on-air broadcast of Brigada's radio station, DYAC-FM, in Cebu City, of

a live interview on Facebook on the morning of March 13 with a four-year-old child who was

allegedly sexually abused by her uncle. The anchors of the program, Atty. Juril Patino and Dennes

Tabar were reported to have allowed and even encouraged, the child to narrate her abuse in graphic

terms, including the use of offensive language. The broadcast became the subject of criticism and

outrage by various civic and media citizen groups in Cebu City.

 

The KBP Standards Authority asked Brigada and station DYAC-FM to explain why they should not

be sanctioned for multiple violations of the Broadcast Code regarding the broadcast of matters

relating to children, among them the following:

 

Article 3. Coverage Involving Children

 

Sec. 1. The right to privacy of children must always be respected. Since undue publicity

or wrong labeling can cause harm to them, children who are victims of abuse or in

conflict with the law shall not be identified, directly or indirectly. Any information that

might cause them to be identified shall not be aired.

 

Sec. 2. Surprise and unplanned (“ambush”) interviews of children are prohibited.

 

Sec. 3. Child victims, child suspects, children accused of a crime, children arrested or

detained on suspicion of wrong-doing, and children that are undergoing trial shall be

protected from further suffering emotional distress or trauma; they shall be interviewed

only upon the consent of their parent or legal guardian unless the parent or guardian is the

accused. The interview shall be conducted only with the authority and supervision of

qualified lawyers, psychologists, or social workers responsible for their welfare.

 

Sec. 4. Children should not be required, coerced, or bribed to recall and narrate traumatic

experiences, demonstrate horrific acts, or describe them in graphic detail.

 

The KBP Standards Authority asked Brigada to reply to the order within ten working days