Teno signs anti-porno law

Amid concerns on sex-related crimes in the island community, a new bill was signed into law yesterday by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in an effort to shield minors under 18 years old from flagrant display of materials deemed pornographic in some local establishments.

Public Law 12-9 also imposes stiffer penalties against merchants found violating the new restrictions with imprisonment of not more than one year and/or fine of up to $5,000.

Sponsored by House Health and Welfare Committee chair Rep. Malua T. Peter, the new law came in the wake of numerous complaints against some shops in the tourist district of Garapan openly trading pornographic materials.

It noted that over 10,000 minors residing in the CNMI and more than 40,000 others visiting the islands yearly are “becoming increasingly exposed to merchandise of pornographic nature and this exposure has a detrimental effect on this age group.”

PL 12-9 aims to punish merchants or businesses displaying merchandise considered pornographic to children, while providing “clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards” addressing rights of children.

It is actually an amendment to existing Commonwealth Code to make it unlawful to display or show any graphic reproduction showing “genitalia, sexual contact or sexual display” unless such materials are used for medical reference or for educational purposes.

Establishments catering to this particular business are now required to prominently post a notice in English, Chamorro, Carolinian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Tagalog to bar entry for minors below 18.

In court cases, it will not be a defense of any merchants charged in violation of this law of not knowing the child’s age or that he believed that the minor is of age or older based on the child’s declaration, according to the law.

The Department of Public Safety in recent months has intensified its campaign against prostitution in Garapan which has become famous for its strip clubs and sex shops catering to male clientele, mostly Japanese tourists and U.S. sailors on rest and relaxation.

Prostitution is illegal in the CNMI but some establishments are masquerading as legitimate tourist-related or entertainment businesses to evade arrests and lawsuits.

Meanwhile, the governor also signed into law a Rota local bill that will ban fishermen in the island municipality from using explosives, poisons, electric shock devices, scuba tank or hookah within its reef or lagoon and areas 1,000 feet away.

Offered by Sen. Richardo S. Atalig, this becomes Rota Local Law 12-3 which is a clarification of an earlier law on the fishing prohibitions.