Press Release
October 4, 2007

PRODUCERS OF "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" DESPERATE- REVILLA

Alongside with the appeal to law-enforcement agencies to intensify its campaign against the so-called " Recto University " and other diploma mills, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. denounced the racial insult made against Philippine medical schools by the hit American television series "Desperate Housewives".

"It's not a laughing matter. The producers of the show are too desperate to maintain their ratings to the extent of arrogance and insensitivity. By not taking into consideration the impact of statements made in the show clearly demonstrates their irresponsibility," said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.

The senator issued this statement in connection with the negative remark by character Susan Mayer, being played by actress Teri Hatcher, when she visited the office of Dr. Adam Mayfair, played by Nathan Fillion, on the show's 4th season premier.

In the scene that was shown in the US last September 30, Dr. Mayfair told a visibly terrified Mayer that the word "menopause" seems to open a Pandora's Box for the age-conscious middle-aged woman.

"They hear ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual drive�" said the doctor who was cut midway from his explanation by an agitated Mayer.

"Before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? 'Coz, I just want to make sure they're not from some med school in the Philippines ," she said while searching for the doctor's records.

Revilla supports the demand made by the Philippine Consulate General, Philippine Medical Association and concerned viewers to the show's producers to issue an immediate public apology. "Certainly, the show did not earn additional viewers but detractors. They did not research enough to know the Philippines produces world-class medical practitioners, "he added.

Desperate Housewives is an award winning comedy-drama series which premiered in October 2003 and produced by ABC Studios � Walt Disney Company's main television studio � and Cherry Productions. It is locally shown on Studio 23.

At the same time, Revilla urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up its drive against document-forging syndicates, particularly in the notorious " Recto University " in Claro M. Recto Avenue , Manila where fake documents ranging from birth certificates to diplomas are reportedly produced for the right price.

He stressed that the existence of fake document processing shops in the Philippines affect the integrity of Philippine documents and the credibility of Filipino professionals.

"Once and for all, these forgers should be stopped. Every time there's a massive government campaign against them, they simply suspend operations. After a while, they return to their illegal activities," the lawmaker pointed out.

Based on news reports, makers of fake diplomas and other official documents in the said avenue believe that their operations will persist despite government efforts to drive them out of work. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the National Printing Office (NPO) recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the printing of highly security paper to be used for college diplomas.

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