PDEA seeks to ban “Amatz” song

May 24, 2019

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) asked authorities to ban the airing of song 'Amatz'' as it claims it promotes the use of marijuana.

In a letter on Monday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino requested the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), and the ABS-CBN Corp. to prevent the airing of ‘Amatz’ and its promotion in different media stations in the country.

The chorus of the song is mostly about ‘Lakas ng amats ko, sobrang natural, walang halong kemikal’. At the same time, the lyrics also mention, “Ito hinangad ko; lipadin ay mataas pa sa kayang ipadama sayo ng gramo, di bale ng musika ikamatay,” Aquino said. .

“It appears that the singer was referring to the high effect of marijuana, being in its natural/organic state and not altered by any chemical compound,” Aquino pointed out.

“We respect and appreciate our artists in the music industry, however, we strongly oppose the promotion of musical pieces or songs that encourage the recreational use of drugs like marijuana and shabu. It is contrary to our fight against illegal drugs,” Aquino added.

He said airing the song that features use of illegal drugs as harmless may mislead the youth that it is all right to use it.

“This runs contrary to Duterte’s administration crusade against illegal drugs,” Aquino said. DMS