The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) filed administrative charges against ABS-CBN after the agency found irregularities in the defunct "Wilyonaryo" segment of the noontime show Wowowee.
It was on August 20, 2007 that "Wilyonaryo" became controversial because of the two numbers, "0"and "2," that contained the violet "jackpot" wheel of the said segment.
On September 13, 2007, the DTI organized a fact-finding team to investigate the incident. The team was composed of the Consumer Welfare Trade Group, Bureau of Trade Regulation Protection of DTI, representatives from Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), and a consumer organization.
The panel probed the controversy for two months and released its recommendations last November 9.
Last night, January 15, Saksi reported that DTI-National Capital Region Area 3, which has jurisdiction over ABS-CBN in Quezon City, filed a case at the Office of the Regional Caretaker of DTI-NCR, based on investigation conducted by the fact-finding panel.
DTI-NCR, which serves as the court in the case, gave ABS-CBN Network 10 days to answer the charges.
Assistant Secretary Angel Pelayo, DTI-NCR director, said their agency would wait for ABS-CBN's reply to the charges. She reiterated, "Noong January 11, nagsampa ng formal charge ang Area 3 director ng DTI-NCR sa opisina ko, and the formal charge is versus ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. Nag-send na ng summons, and we are waiting for their reply."
DTI, however, refused to disclose the details on the charges and the recommendations of the fact-finding team.
DISAPPOINTED. On the other hand, the network expressed disappointment with the DTI's charges through the following official statement sent to the media:
"ABS-CBN is extremely disappointed with the charges filed by the Department of Trade and Industry... ABS-CBN categorically denies any wrongdoing or violation of law.
"ABS-CBN reiterates, there was a design flaw in the wheels but there was never any intention to gain any advantage over contestants or control the outcome of the contests.
ABS-CBN will answer the charges and is confident that it will be absolved of any liability."
KBP CLEARS WOWOWEE.Meanwhile, a press release sent to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) by ABS-CBN yesterday, January 15, stated that KBP has cleared Wowowee over the "Wilyonaryo" scam.
KBP's legal counsel, Atty. Rudolph Jularbal, said that their Standards Authority Committee found that there was no cheating after investigating the equipment used in the game and interviewing the Wowowee's production staff.
Moreover, the KBP also reviewed the tape of the episode and determined that Wowowee host Willie Revillame was genuinely surprised at the mistake.
In the end, ABS-CBN welcomed KBP's decision and stated, through its Corporate Communications Head, Bong Osorio, "We've always told the truth. And the truth will always come out."
ABS-CBN is a member of KBP.