FILE PHOTO: Lala Sotto | PHOTO: Official facebook page of MTRCB
Updated 2:31 p.m., Sept. 14
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio on Tuesday night denied influencing a group of so-called social media broadcasters into filing a criminal case against Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Sotto clarified that her meeting with the members of the Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc. (KSMBPI) at the MTRCB office last Aug. 24, was in connection with the performance of her duties as head of the review body.
“The purpose of this visit was to express their support for our efforts in monitoring film and TV broadcasts, recognizing that the MTRCB operates as a small agency with limited manpower. Thus, the MTRCB welcomes their expression of support on ensuring responsible and quality content in the entertainment industry in line with our mandates under PD 1986,” she said, referring to the edict that creates the body.
“As stated by the KSMBPI, its decision to file a case ‘was never triggered nor influenced in any way by the MTRCB.’ We urge everyone not to interpret these photos with any malicious intent,” she further said.
Photos of the KSMBPI’s meeting with Sotto surfaced following the group’s filing of a complaint against the “It’s Showtime” hosts for violation of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the cybercrime law.
In its complaint, it alleged that Vice Ganda and Perez committed an “obscene act” in licking icing off his finger during the noontime show’s July 25, 2023 episode. Such act, the complainant said, is an emulation of a “sexual activity,” which was broadcast on national television and uploaded on ABS-CBN’s social media platforms.
The MTRCB earlier ordered the 12-airing day suspension of “It’s Showtime,” citing the same episode, as well as similar oversights in previous episodes.
ABS-CBN said it would submit a motion for reconsideration of the MTRCB’s ruling. The network, as well as the beleaguered hosts, have yet to comment on the criminal complaint.
Meanwhile, the MTRCB said it received an “unfortunate surge in threatening messages” directed at Sotto over the past weeks, labelling them a “unfounded personal attack.”