After more than a year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) finally released the result of its investigation on the administrative charges filed against the defunct "Wilyonaryo" segment of Wowowee. (Click here to read related article.)
In its 11-page decision released yesterday, October 13, GMA News reported that the DTI found the segment of the noontime show to have violated the Republic Act 7394 or the Consumers Act of the Philippines.
Part of the decision read: "A reasonable assessment of the existing game mechanics and procedures implemented at the time of the subject 20 August 2007 'Wilyonaryo' episode reveals that the game show segment allowed a reasonable likelihood of error and provided the host and organizers significant latitude in controlling the outcome of the contest."
Hence, the government agency ordered ABS-CBN to pay the P290,000 fine and come up with an execution of written undertaking.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) tried to get the side of ABS-CBN about the decision of the DTI, but its Corporate Communications department said that the network has yet to issue an official statement.
The controversy sparked on August 20, 2007 during the "Wilyonaryo" jackpot segment of Wowowee. One of the wheels (violet) used in the game contained both the numbers "0" and "2." These numbers represented the prize money a contestant could possibly take home, either zero or two million. (Click here to read related story.)
When PEP tried to get the side of Wowowee with regard to this incident, an ABS-CBN executive said that it was an honest mistake and that Willie unintentionally pulled the strip that contained number "2" so the number "0" appeared, which was said to be the base of the wheel. (Click here to read related article.)
DTI started its investigation when the issue caught the attention of Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas, chair of the senate trade and commerce committee, and expressed his intention to probe the alleged rigging at the ABS-CBN noontime variety show. (Click here to read related article.)