Vice Ganda summoned by MTRCB on complaints over 2 shows

MANILA, Philippines – Comedian and TV host Vice Ganda was summoned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) after it received complaints about an “offensive scene” and the “use of sexual overtones” on his two shows, It’s Showtime and Gandang Gabi Vice. 

According to a report from Pep, Vice, along with ABS-CBN representatives and the network’s legal counsel, attended a mandatory conference with the MTRCB on Tuesday, August 26. It’s Showtime host Billy Crawford also attended the conference.

The conference was also attended by National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) executive director Delia Hernandez; Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) representatives Klarise Estorninos (director for child’s rights) and Kristoffer Claudio (program officer). 

Prejudicial to child’s development

The  first complaint, based on documents obtained by Pep, pertains to a July 28 episode of It’s Showtime. Vice – Jose Viceral in real life – wiped his sweaty armpits with a towel and used that on the face of one of the show’s male dancers during the “Gandang Lalaki” portion of the show.

It was discussed during the mandatory conference that the scene may have an impact on children watching the show, since It’s Showtime is aired from 12:30 pm to 3 pm. 

“Anything that exposes the child to an environment that would make him or her depart from fundamental norms for physical, intellectual, social, emotional and moral development and well-being such as the use of obscene language, the lack of respect for the dignity of individual person, and the exposure to scenes of sex and violence are conditions or situations that are deemed prejudicial to the child’s development,” the document stated.

ABS-CBN business unit head Reily Santiago, who was in the conference, accepted that they had a lapse on self-regulation and agreed to undergo a “three-month period of close collaboration with the Board concerning the show’s programming in addition to the implementation of other self-regulatory measures.”

Santiago also apologized to those who may have been offended by Vice’s action on the show.

Aside from the 3-month period of close coordination the MTRCB, Vice and those on the show will undergo a media seminar on audience-sensitivity and administration of justice.

Inappropriate words

Vice’s attention was also called to the Gandang Gabi Vice August 3 episode, where there were instances he used words that were either inappropriate or had double meaning. 

Vice had actor Piolo Pascual and his assistant Moi Bien as guests during the episode. 

Resource persons invited to the conference said the scenes were not fit for children.

“The representatives from the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) and the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) both opined that the scenes in issue contained elements prejudicial to the development and well-being of children.

“Specifically, NCCT Executive Director Hernandez said that under the Charter of Children’s Television, children should have high quality programs that do not exploit but allow them to develop physically, mentally and socially to their fullest potential.”

Vice and representatives from both shows have yet to issue a statement over the matter. – Rappler.com