The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has imposed a 20-day preventive suspension on ABS-CBN's daily variety program Showtime. This resulted after the "uncalled for" statements made by judge Rosanna Roces against the teachers on the show's January 7 live episode.

In the said incident, after the performance of a group from Calamba, Laguna, Roces asked one of the contestants about the name of national hero Jose Rizal, who hails from Calamba. The actress asked the contestant how come Rizal's full name is Jose Protacio Rizal when his father's name was Francisco Mercado and his mother's name was Teodora Alonzo.

When the contestant was not able to answer the question, Roces said to the contestant: "Murahin mo yung teacher mo, ha! Ako minura ko yung teacher ko nung hindi niya sinagot sa akin 'yan. Oo, walanghiya 'yang mga teacher na 'yan, hindi sinasabi yung totoo sa atin, e! Ikaw taga-roon ka hindi mo alam.

"Pero mga kabataan," she continued, "huwag kayong makuntento sa itinuturo ng libro at ng teacher. Magtatanong po kayo, hindi masama iyon. Oo, dahil ang mga teachers, they were just repeaters. Itinuturo nila kung ano ang itinuro sa kanila. Hindi na nila itinuturo kung ano ang gustong malaman ng mga bata.

"'Yan, isang trivia para sa 'yo. Hanapin mo. I-Wikipedia mo, malalaman mo," she then told the contestant.

But during the same episode, Showtime resident judge Vice Ganda defended the teachers.

He said, "Bago ang lahat, gusto ko munang magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga naging guro ko nung unang-unang beses pa lang akong nag-aral hanggang sa natapos ako. Kasi napakahuhusay ng mga naging guro ko. At gusto ko lang sabihin na ang mga guro, mga tao rin naman, nagkakamali rin 'yan, di ba? Kaya huwag nating lahatin. Pero siguro, may mga gurong nagkamali, pero napakarami rin namang mahuhusay lalo na sa Pilipinas."

Vice Ganda added, "Kahit mga artista, hindi naman lahat napakahusay. Hindi naman lahat ng pulitiko, napakahusay. Meron din namang gurong hindi, pero nakaparami rin namang mahuhusay. At ang laki ng bahagi nila sa buhay natin."

After the commercial gap, Roces explained that she is not criticizing all teachers. She later revealed that she was molested by a teacher, who is now dead.

ABS-CBN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. The statement of Roces caught the ire of many viewers who reacted angrily. Hence, ABS-CBN removed Roces as one of the judges of Showtime. Nevertheless, the MTRCB decided to suspend the show for 20 days.

The MTRCB's move did not sit well with ABS-CBN. In an official statement sent by ABS-CBN Corporate Communications head Bong Osorio to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) earlier tonight, January 11, the Kapamilya network argued that it had already imposed self-regulation by removing Roces as a judge.

The full statement reads:

"In the spirit of self-regulation, ABS-CBN removed Rosanna Roces as a judge in SHOWTIME after she made statements against the teachers in the January 7 live show. But despite this, MTRCB still imposed a 20-day preventive suspension for the program.

"A preventive suspension is issued to stop further violations, if there were any committed, or for the interest or welfare of the public. Thus, the network questions the need for said preventive suspension when Rosanna Roces has already been removed from the program.

"SHOWTIME is a highly entertaining show watched by many Filipinos. It helps promote and showcase the creativity and talent of kapamilyas nationwide, uplifts their spirit and provides opportunities to improve their lives."

PEP learned that ABS-CBN is planning to make an appeal to lift the suspension. The network was reportedly surprised by the MTRCB's swift decision because they are set to meet on Thursday, Jan. 14, to talk about the issue.