Showbiz Roundup: Juan Ponce Enrile, Vice Ganda, Ion Perez, Lala Sotto

(From left) Juan Ponce Enrile, Vice Ganda, Ion Perez, Lala Sotto-Antonio. Image: FILE PHOTOS

The dispute between “It’s Showtime” hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez, and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is the center of attention for the second week of September, as the embattled noontime show continued to take heat for its controversial icing-licking episode, this time from a group of “social media broadcasters” and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.

Despite MTRCB chairperson Dioerella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio’s denial of wielding influence in the review body’s suspension order, her office cried foul against “disturbing threats” made towards her.

On the other hand, Angelica Panganiban is an excited bride-to-be as she expressed her excitement to say “I do” to her partner Gregg Homan in 2024. All these and more, as we take a look at the biggest stories of INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section from Sept. 8 to 14.

‘Salacious’ and ‘indecent’

“It’s Showtime” may have rougher sailing ahead as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile voiced his own objections to its main host Vice Ganda amid the show’s ongoing tussle with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

In his radio program on SMNI News on Saturday, Enrile called Vice Ganda “salacious” and “indecent,” comparing him with those wielding their power and influence.

“Salacious, ibig sabihin nun malisyoso. Ang problema kasi sa bansa natin kapag meron kang kapangyarihan political, social, o economic o whatever, hindi mo na iniisip yung kapwa,” Enrile said.

“Yung binigay na katangian mo sa iyong lipunan ay hindi mo na tinitignan ang kakulangan ng iba. Sarili mo na lang iniisip mo, akala mo maganda yung ginagawa mo. Super bastos ka, bastos kang tao,” he added.

Enrile said that he was able to follow Vice Ganda’s rise in popularity, and that’s when he realized that the host-comedian has been using “indecent acts” to earn a living.

Last Sept. 4, MTRCB handed a 12-airing day suspension on “It’s Showtime,” citing “indecent acts” by Vice Ganda and his partner Ion Perez, during the show’s “Isip Bata” segment on July 25 and the use of “inappropriate language” by another host in other episodes.

As President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s chief legal adviser, any ruling meted by the MTRCB may be elevated to the Office of the President, who may then refer the matter to Enrile’s office.

Vice and Ion’s cybercrime charges

Vice Ganda and Ion Perez. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

A lawyer who identified himself as president of a group of “social media broadcasters” filed a criminal case for violation of the cybercrime law against Vice Ganda Ion Perez before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Atty. Leo Olarte, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc., said the legal action was just the first of a series of cases that his group will file against violators of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, “both in the online and offline platforms.”

Olarte said the “obscene act” in question was Vice Ganda’s supposed emulation of a “sexual activity” when he licked icing off Perez’s finger during the noontime show’s July 25, 2023 episode.

“What they did have a psychological impact on children, especially they were in front of children. It opens the mind of children who can easily be persuaded to emulate sexual activities. Ini-introduce sila. They are gullible, madaling maimpluwensya. Musmos pa ang mga iyan, so hindi maganda,” he further said.

Aside from violation of Republic Act 10175, KSMBPI is also preparing a second criminal case against Vice Ganda and Perez for violation of the child abuse law.

The group likewise denied that the criminal case against the host-comedian and Perez were instigated by the MTRCB.

Olarte said KSMBPI is an independent private advocacy organization that is “subservient to none except God, country and the Filipino people.”

Lala Sotto denies influencing ‘It’s Showtime’s’ suspension

FILE PHOTO: Lala Sotto | PHOTO: Official facebook page of MTRCB

Meanwhile, Sotto denied influencing KSMBPI  into filing a criminal case against Vice Ganda and Ion Perez, saying in a statement that her meeting with the members of the 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.

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.

The MTRCB also said it received an “unfortunate surge in threatening messages” directed at Sotto over the past weeks, labeling them a “unfounded personal attack.”

Vice Ganda’s response

Vice Ganda. Screengrab from ABS-CBN “It’s Showtime” YouTube channel

Meanwhile, in the Vice Ganda appeared to be indirectly addressing the remarks of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, who called the “It’s Showtime” host “salacious” and “indecent” amid the noontime show’s ongoing dispute with MTRCB.

During the interview portion of the show’s “Mini Miss U” segment last September 11, Vice Ganda was asked by a child contestant if she could greet her grandfather who was then watching the show and considers the host-comedian as his “idol.”

“Nakakatuwa. Ang daming lolong nanonood sa atin. Ang daming lolong nakatutok sa akin, di ba?… Maging sa social media andaming nagsho-shoutout sa akin. My God, I feel so relevant and famous, lalong lalo na yung mga lolo dyan na mahal na mahal ako. I love lolos and lolas, promise,” he said.

“Kaya kay lolo mo, pakisabi na love na love ko sya,” he told the child contestant. “At pati na rin sa mga lolong hindi ako masyadong like, I still love you po,” Vice Ganda added while giving a finger heart.

Vice Ganda’s remarks appeared to answer Enrile’s pronouncements on his radio program that he thought the host-comedian is “salacious,” adding that he did not like the “Praybeyt Benjamin” star much because he uses “indecency” to earn a living.

Angelica Panganiban’s ‘forever’

Image: Instagram/@iamangelicap

In her birthday greeting for Gregg Homan, Angelica Panganiban said she looks forward to tying the knot with her fiancé whom she described as her “forever.”

Panganiban penned her message to Homan on her Instagram page last Sept. 7, while showing a photo of the latter with their daughter Amila Sabine, also fondly called Bean.

The couple, who is currently in Australia, celebrated the occasion over a meal with their loved ones. They appear to have also gone on a stroll as the actress was seen breastfeeding Bean at a bench with the view of the Sydney Opera House.

Panganiban gave birth to Bean in September 2022. A month later, the couple announced their engagement, then revealed that they planned to wed in 2024. EDV