After Willie Revillame flap, TV5 tightens up on minors

MANILA, Philippines—After issuing a public apology for the exploitative treatment of a 6-year-old boy in a segment of the “Willing Willie” variety show last March 12, the TV5 television network has announced that it has taken steps to prevent a repeat of the incident.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, TV5 said it had appointed Roberto V. Barreiro, its chief operating officer, and Christine C. Ona, legal counsel, to lead a team that would conduct a “thorough investigation” of the incident.

Government officials, led by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, castigated the broadcast station and host Willie Revillame for making the young contestant, Jan-jan Suan, “gyrate distastefully … like a macho dancer” in exchange for money. An amused Revillame gave the boy P10,000, and led the studio audience in cheering him and egging the child to dance some more.

Pending the result of the investigation, TV5 said it is now preparing “stricter guidelines on the appearance and performance of minors, particularly children, on all TV5 programs.”

TV5 has also directed that all auditions for “Willing Willie” and other network-produced programs “be supervised by network representatives designated by the TV5 Ombudsman.”

Ona has been appointed the “internal Ombudsman” and tasked to “review any incidents of this nature and to whom any complaints may be referred for immediate disposition.”

TV5 has also imposed a moratorium on the participation of minors “in all contests and game shows until such time that the preceding measures are fully in place,” said the statement.

The network welcomed hearings called by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and other government agencies as “opportunities to further thresh out the issues and find solutions that would address the many concerns that have been expressed.”

The MTRCB on Tuesday said it would investigate the episode after it received “numerous complaints” from viewers.

The Commission on Human Rights said it would conduct its own investigation as the episode appeared to have violated a law protecting children.

Two senators have added their voice to the chorus of condemnation.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, chair of the committee on youth, women and family relations, described the scene in the TV show as “very disturbing.”

“The producers of shows should be mindful that the rights of the child are respected all the time, on and off the air,” she said.

Sen. Francis Escudero blamed the boy’s parents “more than anyone else for just standing there and for allowing it to happen.”

During the program, the mother could be seen cheering wildly even as the boy was in tears.

“Personally, I did not like and agree with what I saw and with what was done to the little boy,” he said. With Christian Esguerra