MTRCB chair Lala Sotto and “It’s Showtime” hosts. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Cristy Ferminute, Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said that chairman Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio inhibited from voting on the suspension of “It’s Showtime” to ensure that board members would “exercise their independent judgment.”
“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,” a statement released by the regulatory board on Tuesday, Sept. 5 read.
The MTRCB, a quasi-judicial government body, said respondents in every adjudication proceeding are “accorded due process,” adding that the regulatory board ensures that the latter “exercise their right to a fair trial.”
“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,” it said.
“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,” it further noted.
Incidentally, Sotto is the daughter of former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is one of the hosts of “EAT,” the noontime show on TV5 that directly competes with “It’s Showtime.”
The MTRCB reiterated that the noontime show producers have the right to file a motion for reconsideration (MR), and that they can appeal to the Office of the President should they find the regulatory board’s decision on the MR unfavorable.
“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,” it concluded.
The MTRCB earlier issued its decision to suspend ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime” for 12 airing days due to show hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez’s alleged “indecent acts.”
The Kapamilya network has since released a statement saying it will file a motion for reconsideration as they maintained that “there was no violation of pertinent law.” EDV