DEPUTY Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said while some sectors maybe against the public advertisement about the use of condoms and other forms of contraceptives, it has not been ruled as indecent or immoral by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Saludo made the statement even as he stressed that the government would simply respect the views and opinion of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which proposed a ban on the airing of the advertisement on condoms and contraceptives.

Several bishops earlier censured the Department of Health’s (DOH) distribution of free condoms as part of their campaign against HIV/AIDS, and even called for the resignation of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

“I am not aware that advertisements about contraceptives has ever been ruled as immoral or indecent…As far as the MTRCB is concerned, I don’t remember them ever ruling that to be indecent or immoral,” Saludo said.

He said a ban may only be made if there is a law or resolution passed by Congress.

Saludo added that there are also some sectors who feel that barring the airing of such advertisements may be against the right to freedom of expression.

The CBCP has called for the ban and removal of advertisements on condoms which they fear causes to “desensitize the youth’s delicate conscience and weaken their moral fiber as future parents.”