JERRY OLEA:
Hindi bumoto si MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto sa usapin ng 12-day suspension sa It’s Showtime kaugnay sa icing-ng-cake harutan nina Vice Ganda at Ion Perez sa “Isip Bata” segment ng July 25, 2023 episode ng nasabing programa.
Read: MTRCB suspends 'It's Showtime' for 12 days
Ito ang isiniwalat ng MTRCB sa official statement na inilabas ngayong Setyembre 5, Martes ng hapon.
Ang kabuuan ng pahayag ng MTRCB, “The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) reassures the public that it will continue to uphold due process and fairness in the discharge of its regulatory mandate and quasi-judicial function, as provided by law.
“In each adjudication proceeding, the Board ensures that respondents are accorded due process and exercise their right to a fair trial.
“Through the Agency’s Hearing and Adjudication Committee, respondents are given the opportunity to present their case and submit position papers, which are deliberated upon by the said Committee.
“After considering the merits of the case, the Committee recommends to the Board its final decision for affirmation.
“Last 17 August 2023, a special board meeting was held to address multiple adjudicated cases, including the 25 July 2023 episode of It's Showtime.
“On 29 August 2023, during its regular board meeting, the Board unanimously voted on the suspension of the said program.
“This decision was made with careful consideration of prior warnings and offenses associated with the show.
“Chairperson Lala Sotto inhibited from voting, ensuring that members of the Board exercised their independent judgment in determining the appropriate course of action.
“Despite the imposition of the penalty, respondents have the right to file a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the decision.
“Should the respondents find the Board’s decision on the MR unfavorable, they may choose to appeal to the Office of the President within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision on the MR.
“The order suspending the show shall only take effect after the lapse of the aforementioned periods without the respondents having filed their MRs or appeals.”
Si Chair Lala ay anak ni former Senator Tito Sotto, na isa sa hosts ng noontime show na E.A.T. sa TV5.
Sa “Choose Ko Po!” segment ng It’s Showtime ngayong Tuesday afternoon, September 5, matapos ang presentation ng letter D, nagsabi si Vice, “OK, letter…”
May sumigaw na hanggang letter D lamang ang choices.
Hirit ni Vice habang binubuklat ang hawak na cue card, “Hindi, may letter… may letter… The Office of the Movie and Tele charot! Ha! Ha! Ha! Yun yung letter. Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Tawanan at hiyawan ang mga tao sa studio.
Sabi ni Vice, “OK! Anong laging nasa panalangin ng Showtime staff? Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“Ano nga?! Letter A?!” bulalas ni Karylle.
Pagpapatuloy ni Vice, “Ha! Ha! Ha! Sana yun ang tanong. Ano kaya ang ipinagdasal ng Showtime staff kagabi?
“Pero ang Showtime family, kung ano man ang ipinagdasal niyo kagabi, I’m very sure, yun din ang ipinagdasal ng madlang people. We are in this together, di ba?”
Nagpalakpakan at naghiyawan ang studio audience. May napaiyak, at may nag-"amen."
Dagdag ni Vice habang may background music na humahaplos sa puso, “Oo, di ba? Di ba? Ang madlang people ay kami.
“Kayo ang Showtime, yes! Tayo ang Showtime!”
As we write this, kabilang sa trending topics ng X (dating Twitter) sa bansa ang Lala Sotto, Vice Ganda, #AbolishMTRCB, at #TayoAngShowtime.
Read: Vice Ganda, pasabog ang entrance sa 'It's Showtime' sa gitna ng 12-day suspension mula sa MTRCB
NOEL FERRER:
At least, nalinaw na hindi kasama si Lala sa nagdesisyon sa 12-day suspension na ipinataw sa It’s Showtime.
Maganda itong nangyayaring dayalogo between the government body at ang concerned show pati na ang publiko.
Ngayon mate-test ang batayan ng mga alituntunin, pati na ang extent ng creative freedom ng mga artists.
Ituloy lang ang usapang ito na, sana, magbunsod sa mas maayos at magandang pamantayan ng panoorin para sa ating lahat.
GORGY RULA:
Nilinaw ng ilang taga-MTRCB na napagtanungan namin na hindi sumali sa adjudication committee ang chairperson ng naturang ahensya na si Lala Sotto-Antonio.
Pero sinasabi raw noon ni Chair Lala na isa sa dapat nilang isipin ay ang production staff ng It’s Showtime.
Sa totoo lang, may iba pang puwedeng gawin ang It’s Showtime hosts kung matutuloy ang suspension. Ang lubhang maaapektuhan ay ang mga taong nasa likod ng naturang programa.
Samantala, inalam din ng PEP Troika kung meron na bang decision sa violation naman ng E.A.T. kung saan ay narinig ang pagmumura ni Wally Bayola.
Napag-alamang wala pang naibabang desisyon sa naturang programa ng TVJ. Pero isang violation pa lang itong nakamit nila at kaagad nilang in-acknowledge ang kanilang pagkakamali at humingi ng paumanhin.
Tingnan natin kung makakapagaan ito sa kanilang kaso.
Read: MTRCB summons 'E.A.T.' for violation following Wally Bayola’s swearing in "Sugod Bahay"