The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has issued its decision to suspend the ABS-CBN noontime program It’s Showtime for 12 airing days.
In a statement released by the MTRCB this Monday (September 4) afternoon, it said that the show has received multiple complaints in the past concerning an episode wherein the program’s hosts allegedly “acted in an indecent manner” during one of its segments, Isip Bata.
It can be recalled that the producers were summoned by the MTRCB after a viral cake-eating scene between hosts and real-life couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
The said case was referred to the Board’s Hearing and Adjudication Committee, which heard the case and required the respondents to submit their position papers, following a procedural process.
The MTRCB further stated that the respondents have 15 days to ask for a reconsideration of the decision plus another 15 days to appeal to the Office of the President if warranted.
“In accordance with the Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1986 (MTRCB Charter), the respondents may file one Motion for Reconsideration (MR) within fifteen days after receipt of the decision. Should the Board’s Decision be adverse to the respondent’s MR, they may appeal to the Office of the President within fifteen days from the receipt of the decision on the MR,” the statement read.
It was noted that this was not the first time that a preventive suspension order was imposed on It’s Showtime. In 2010, the MTRCB also imposed a 20-day preventive suspension on the variety program which was called “Showtime” at the time.
In 2023, the MTRCB claimed that it had received multiple complaints which the Board has given due course.
The Board has also issued two additional warnings to the noontime show concerning other incidents.
In the first case, the “inappropriate utterance of the word ‘G Spot’ by hosts Jhong Hilario and Vice Ganda” during its episode last January 24 was said to have “violated Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1986.”
The Board also found the respondents, namely ABS-CBN, ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. (ZBNI) and TV5 Network, Inc., “remiss in the performance of their respective functions and duties required under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1986, specifically Section 2 (B) Chapter IV,” and were “admonished to refrain from making any utterances of similar nature for the same will be dealt more severely.”
In another case, the mention of the word “Tinggil” by host Vhong Navarro on its episode last June 3 was said to be in “violation of Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1986.”
“Derelict in the performance of their respective functions and duties under the IRR of P.D. No. 1986, Respondents (ABS-CBN and ZBNI) were sternly warned by the Board that a similar utterance will be dealt with more severely,” further read the board’s decision.
In addition, the noontime show has duly submitted their motions for reconsideration for the above-mentioned cases which are currently pending with the MTRCB’s Adjudication Committee.
MTRCB also mentioned prior warnings received by the show for uttering the word “Pek Pek Shorts” in an episode last January 9 as well as the indecent attire and performance of Kim Duenas in the “Girl on Fire” segment which aired on February 14, 2023.
ABS-CBN and It’s Showtime producers have yet to issue a statement on the matter.
