NEWSFLASH

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ARMIDA IS ERAP'S CHIEF MOVIE-TV CENSOR

San Juan, Metro Manila, June 19, 1998 - Movie producer and actress Armida Siguion-Reyna has been appointed Chairman of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board.

President-elect Joseph Estrada announced his designation of the outspoken and staunch anti- censorship advocate during a press conference attended by PHNO editor Sol Vanzi.

Estrada's choice came as no surprise, especially to the members of the entertainment industry, who welcomed the appointment of someone from among their ranks.

In several interviews prior to the announcement, Armida said she would clip the MTRCB's censorship powers. "One thing I'd like to do is to remove all prior restraining powers of the board," she told the Manila Times.

She expects the Estrada presidency to be beneficial to the movie industry. "An Estrada administration will be positive for the movie industry because he used to be a movie star. He got to where he is because he was a movie actor and a producer."

Armida take a leave from her Reyna Films to avoid a conflict of interest, Her son, movie director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, and daughter-in-law Bibeth Orteza, will take over the outfit.

Entertainment columnists today published the "leaked" composition of the Estrada administration's MTRCB, under actress-opera singer-producer Armida.

Vice chairman will be academician and critic Bienvenido Lumbrera, while executive director is CCP executive Dennis Marasigan.

The rumored composition of the rest of the board: Lorna Tolentino, Anita Linda, Eric Quizon, Nick DeOcampo, Behn Cervantes, Joel Lamangan, Don Escudero, Mel Chionglo, Emmanuel Borlaza, Jose Lacaba, Raquel Villavicencio, Romy Romulo, Jim Paredes, Teresita Daza, Antonio Tuviera, Maloli Manalastas, Benedicto Ternate, Father Nick Cruz, Msgr. Nico Bautista, Ma. Laura Dimanlig, Atty. Renato Salud, Atty. Eric Mallonga, Atty. Adolfo Guerzon, Atty. Julie Dimalanta, Gloria Sevilla, Nida Blanca, Diego Cagahastian, Robert Arevalo and Sofia Macapagal.