AFTER RECEIVING multiple complaints of indecent behavior, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has issued its decision to suspend the live noontime program It’s Showtime for 12 airing days.
In a statement issued on Sept. 4, the board said that many complaints were concerned about the July 25 episode of the show, during which the program’s hosts “allegedly acted in an indecent manner during one of its segments called ‘Isip Bata’.”
The segment in question had a brief moment where comedian-host Vice Ganda shared a cake with partner Ion Perez and, taking some of the icing from Mr. Perez’s fingers to taste it, greeting him a “happy monthsary.”
MTRCB’s statement said that the case falls under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1986, which grants the board the power to disapprove of objectionable portions from and prohibit the broadcast of television programs.
Meanwhile, It’s Showtime will have the opportunity to file “one Motion for Reconsideration (MR) within 15 days after receipt of the decision.”
If the decision on the MR be negative, the show may appeal to the Office of the President within 15 days from its receipt.
The MTRCB had already issued two warnings this year to the noontime show. The first was concerning the “inappropriate utterance of the word ‘g-spot’ by hosts Ms. Ganda and Jhong Hilario during the Jan. 24 episode” and the “inappropriate utterance of the word ‘tinggil’ by host Vhong Navarro during the June 23 episode.”
Though ABS-CBN and It’s Showtime have yet to release any official comment regarding the board’s notice, Ms. Ganda acknowledged the suspension in the show’s Sept. 4 episode, joking about it offhand with co-host Mr. Navarro. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
