“Forty-four years na sila ganyan sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’ never naman nagka-issue,” Lala Sotto claims
The Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) does not see any malicious act out of Tito Sotto and wife Helen Gamboa’s kissing moment on TV5’s noontime show “E.A.T.”
Such is justified by their daughter Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, who currently sits as the regulatory board’s chairperson.
It can be recalled that noontime show “E.A.T.” celebrated “National Dabarkbads Day” on July 29. During the program’s “Babala Wag Kayong Ganuuun” segment, Tito was seen getting intimate, as he kissed his wife Helen on the cheek and neck.
Netizens call Chair Lala Sotto to uphold parity
Prior to this, the MTRCB summoned the producers of “It’s Showtime” following complaints about Vice Ganda and Ion’s icing-eating scene during the show’s segment “Isip Bata” on July 25.
According to the press release that MTRCB issued on Monday, the program producers need to appear and testify on July 31 at their office in Timog Avenue, Quezon City, over “alleged indecent acts” displayed by the couple.
More so, MTRCB emphasized that the scene in question violates Section 3(c) of Presidential Decree No. 1986— a legislation that disproves of any broadcasted materials that are “immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the republic of the Philippines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime.”
The mandate, however, was met with massive disapproval from netizens, who flocked social media to express Lala’s imparity.
Based on Vice Ganda’s social media posts, “It’s Showtime” viewers would not see him and Ion live for an indefinite period of time.
Vice confirmed via Facebook that they are on their way to a vacation, as he uploaded a series of videos of him and Ion on a business-classified air trip.
Lala Sotto speaks up about Tito-Helen sweet gesture
In a statement obtained by local tabloid Bandera, Lala dismisses Tito and Helen’s intimate moment as a weightless gesture, one that she views as just a plain habit for several years already.
“Forty-four years na sila ganyan sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’ never naman nagka-issue,” she says in dismissal of the heavy outcry from netizens who called to implement the same treatment she imposed on “It’s Showtime” hosts and real-life couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
With Lala’s lead, the MTRCB has summoned ”It’s Showtime” producers to their office due to “alleged indecent acts” broadcasted by the couple.
In an interview with Cristy Fermin, she defends her parents’ action further by saying “Wala pong naging problema kasi, in fact, ito po ay isa paring ehemplo ng mag-asawa.”
“Lumaki po kasi akong ganon na halos araw-araw ng buhay naming magkakapatid, ganoon po talaga ang aming mga magulang– mapa-telebisyon, maski saan, mula pa noong bata kami,” she continues.
“Malinaw na walang anumang hindi angkop na nangyari sa ginawang kilos ng aking mga magulang sa programang ‘E.A.T.,’ she adds.
“Wala rin po silang nilabag na mga alintuntunin at gabay ng MTRCB kaya hindi po dapat bigyan ng ‘notice to appear’ at hindi dapat ipatawag ang ‘E.A.T.’,” says Lala who stands firm with her decision to absolve her parents despite netizens’ call for impartiality.
Banner Art Paulo Correa
