MTRCB suspends ‘It’s Showtime’ for 12 days

MANILA, Philippines — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) yesterday issued a decision to suspend the ABS-CBN noontime program “It’s Showtime” for 12 airing days.

“Viewers have lodged multiple complaints before the MTRCB concerning the show’s July 25 episode, wherein the program’s hosts allegedly acted in an indecent manner during one of its segments, ‘Isip Bata,’ ” the MTRCB said.

The agency earlier summoned the program’s producers over an episode showing Vice Ganda and his partner Ion Perez licking frosting from a cake off their own fingers.

The case was referred to the MTRCB’s hearing and adjudication committee, which required the respondents to submit their position papers, following a procedural process.

In accordance with Presidential Decree 1986, the MTRCB Charter, respondents may file one motion for reconsideration within 15 days after receipt of the decision, it added.

The MTRCB recalled that it imposed a 20-day preventive suspension order on the same program (then titled “Showtime”) in 2010.

This year alone, the agency said it has “received multiple complaints, to which the board has given due course.”

It had also issued two additional warnings to the noontime show earlier this year.

First is the “inappropriate utterance of the word ‘G spot’ by hosts Jhong Hilario and Vice Ganda, during its Jan. 24 episode, which is in violation of Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD 1986.”

The other is the “inappropriate utterance of the word ‘tinggil’ by host Vhong Navarro, during the June 3 episode, which is in violation of Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD 1986.”

“At present, the noontime show has duly submitted their MRs for the above-mentioned cases which are currently pending with the MTRCB’s Adjudication Committee,” the agency said.

It added that it has issued prior warnings to the noontime show in relation to the utterance of the word “pekpek shorts” in its Jan. 9 episode and the indecent attire and performance of Kim Duenas in the “Girl on Fire” segment aired last Feb. 14.

Reacting to the MTRCB decision, ABS-CBN said that it has “received the ruling from the MTRCB, indicating that ‘It’s Showtime’ will be suspended for a duration of 12 days from the finality of the decision.”

“We will submit a motion for reconsideration as we humbly maintain that there was no violation of pertinent law. We are also committed to working with the MTRCB to ensure that ‘It’s Showtime’ can continue to bring joy and entertainment to our noontime viewers,” the ABS-CBN statement read.

“We are truly grateful to the Madlang People for their unwavering love and support for ‘It’s Showtime,’ ” it added.