Short answer. Yes. Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code punishes those who exhibit indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts, or shows — and the article expressly states that these include shows which glorify criminals or condone crimes, whether live or in film. The penalty is prisión mayor or a fine of ₱20,000 to ₱200,000, or both.
What the law says
glorify criminals or condone crimes
Revised Penal Code, Article 201 — Obscene Publications And Indecent Shows. Read the full provision →
What the statute covers
Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code punishes those who exhibit indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows in theaters, fairs, cinematographs, or any other place. The article then provides a specific definition of what qualifies: the law states that obscene literature and indecent or immoral shows — whether live or in film — shall include those which glorify criminals or condone crimes. There is no ambiguity here — the statute expressly names this category. The penalty is prisión mayor (six years and one day to twelve years) or a fine from ₱20,000 to ₱200,000, or both, under the 2017 amendment by Republic Act No. 10951.
Other content the article also covers
The article lists several types of content that fall under the same prohibition: shows that serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence, lust or pornography; shows that offend any race or religion; shows that tend to abet traffic in and use of prohibited drugs; and shows contrary to law, public orders, morals, and good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts. All of these are covered alongside the crime-glorifying category. Any of them, standing alone, is sufficient to bring an exhibition within the article's scope.
Who is liable
The article reaches the person or entity that does the exhibiting — not necessarily the filmmaker, the production company, or the writer. A theater owner who screens a film, a fair operator who stages a show, or any venue operator who puts on a live performance can be liable under this provision. The article also separately covers authors of obscene literature (published with their knowledge), editors, and owners or operators of establishments that sell such materials. The supply chain from creator to exhibitor to vendor is all within the article's reach.
The constitutional dimension
Like other provisions of Article 201, the crime-glorifying prohibition operates in constitutionally sensitive territory. Freedom of expression covers fiction, drama, and cinema, and not every depiction of criminal conduct is automatically a glorification of it. A film that shows crime in order to explore its consequences is different from a film that presents crime as admirable and without consequence. Where that line falls for any specific film or show is a legal and factual question — one that would need to be assessed against the specific content. If you are involved in a situation where a screening or show has been shut down or threatened under this article, legal advice specific to the content is essential.