THE Philippines has its very own Mary Whitehouse figure – Bienvenido Abante, a politician and pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church.

The rabid anti-smut campaigner first came to our attention back in 2006 when, as Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights – yeah, you read that right – blew his top over proposed gay equality legislation.

Now this self-righteous little prodnose is back in the news. Together with a group of pastors and preachers representing different churches in Manila, Abante yesterday filed charges against editors and publishers of popular men’s magazines and “smutty” tabloids.

Named in the joint complaint affidavit lodged with the Manila Prosecutor’s Office are Ramon Faustino, editor-in-chief of the local version of Playboy magazine, together with other Playboy staff; as well as staff employed by FHM and Playhouse magazines.

According to this report, the group accuse the respondents of “grave scandal and obscene publication”. They claim that the magazines and tabloids violated anti-pornography laws containing:

Obscene, erotic, indecent, or lewd pictures/poses that show, depict, exhibit, or describe nude or semi nude bodies sexual acts, sexual intercourse, private parts of the human body of both male and female, with no educational, artistic, cultural or scientific value.

Such portions/pages of the said magazines and tabloids are clearly scandalous, obscene and pornographic within the meaning and in violation of Articles 200 and 201 of the Revised Penal Code.

In opposing proposed gay equality legislation in 2006, Abante trumpeted that the enactment of the bill would invite the wrath of his Big Angry Cloud Critter, and would mean:

Death to the most cherished Filipino values of Godliness and moral rectitude.

See full report here.