Viva Entertainment has won the criminal case filed by the Kapisanan ng mga Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas (KSMBPI) against some of its Vivamax stars over alleged inappropriate photos circulating on social media.
The case, which centered around accusations of obscenity, was dismissed due to the court’s ruling that Vivamax’s films fall under freedom of expression and freedom of information.
The legal proceedings revealed that the content in question, which appeared on Vivamax, was distributed on an adult-only streaming platform. As a result, the court determined that KSMBPI had no jurisdiction over such material, as it is protected by laws governing artistic and informational expression.
During a media conference called by KSMBPI founder Doc Mike Aragon to discuss the organization’s upcoming digital advocacy series ‘West Philippine Sea’ (WPS), it was announced that the legal dispute had ultimately led to a collaboration between Viva Films and KSMBPI. This partnership, supported by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), will see Viva Entertainment backing the advocacy projects of KSMBPI.
One of Vivamax’s stars, Ayanna Misola, who is set to feature in the ‘WPS’ series, expressed her excitement over the opportunity to showcase her acting skills beyond her usual roles in the adult film industry.
In contrast to the resolved case, KSMBPI’s criminal case against ‘It’s Showtime’ hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez, as well as vlogger Toni Fowler, is still ongoing. The charges pertain to allegations of indecent behavior on social media.
The ‘WPS’ series, directed by DGPI member Karlo Montero, is set to begin filming on October 1, 2024. It aims to highlight the territorial disputes between the Philippines and China, with the goal of raising awareness about the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. The series will feature a cast including AJ Raval, Aljur Abrenica, Jeric Raval, and Lala Vinzon.
