After the 12-day suspension of “It’s Showtime,” criticism of the MTRCB, especially MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto, continues unabated, stemming from the incident involving popular hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
Yesterday, the Department of Broadcast and Communication at U.P. Diliman called for MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto’s resignation. Although the MTRCB has released a statement regarding Chair Sotto’s recusal from the voting on the case, many are still concerned about her significant role in the matter.
On the other hand, the battle for “It’s Showtime” is far from over. Their management insists that they did not violate any regulations in their program and has even requested a motion for reconsideration to explain their side. Thus, their show continues to air as of now.
Netizens are still eagerly awaiting the outcome of the case involving E.A.T., where controversy arose due to words spoken by Wally Bayola in a segment. Another aspect of this controversy is the connection of E.A.T. to MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto, whose father is former Senator Tito Sotto, one of the hosts and pillars of the said program.
Despite the challenges faced by the MTRCB, they released a video of their seminar called the “Responsabling Panonood Campaign.” In this campaign seminar, they highlighted the responsible guidance of parents regarding what their children watch. Some participants in the seminar gave testimonies.
It is difficult to deny that the MTRCB’s purpose is to protect minors from inappropriate television content. This was highlighted in the issue involving Ion and Vice, which raised concerns among parents about its influence on children.
In the end, this controversy underscores the higher responsibility of showbiz personalities and agencies like the MTRCB. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to rules and regulations aimed at maintaining quality and morality in television programs while also respecting freedom of expression.