Lala belies ongoing rumor of her ill will against “It’s Showtime”
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto emphasized that the agency has given the noontime program “It’s Showtime” leniency despite the 12-day suspension.
IMAGE: mtrcbgov on Instagram
In an interview with GMA-7’s “24 Oras” on Tuesday, September 5, Lala says they can suspend the program immediately. However, they chose not to and gave them a 15-day timeframe to appeal against the ruling.
As how she puts it, “With others, pwede naman talagang na-suspend na kanina pa lang, but no.
“Again, in the spirit of fairness, we are giving them the chance kaya hindi sila suspended today. We will wait for its finality.”
According to the regulatory board’s order, “It’s Showtime” is facing a 12-day suspension over alleged “indecent acts” that hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez displayed during one of their episodes.
Despite this, MTRCB is giving “It’s Showtime” one petition to be forwarded to the committee. Should the results be adverse” to the respondent’s appeal, the program may escalate the issue to the Office of the President 15 days after the issuance of receipt.
READ ALSO: MTRCB Sanctions “It’s Showtime” With 12-Day Suspension
Does Lala Sotto have self-interest against “It’s Showtime?”
Majority of the netizens did not take MTRCB’s decision lightly, as most of them called for the abolishment of the agency and the immediate resignation of the chairperson.
Being the daughter of Tito Sotto, host of “It’s Showtime”’s rival program “E.A.T.”, has prompted many to think that the order is anchored on her personal ill will.
However, she denies this claim and says, “Siguro, natural lang naman sa mga supporters ang maging ganun ang pakiramdam kasi, siguro, naririnig nila na parating nari-report.
“But hindi po kasalanan ng MTRCB ang violations na ginagawa nila.”
Prior to this, the MTRCB has released a separate statement substantiating that Lala Sotto opted out of voting, “ensuring that members of the Board exercised their independent judgment in determining the appropriate course of action.”
IMAGE: mtrcbgov on Instagram
Aside from the netizen’s call, The Department of Broadcast Communication of the University of the Philippines is also seeking her ousting.
The organization has expressed its sentiment via Facebook on Tuesday, August 5.
According to the statement, the organization takes offense at MTRCB’s “unnecessary interventions on TV programs, and in general, its pointlessness in today’s media environment.”
It emphasizes that such a move is an outright display of the regulatory board’s “lack of wisdom and discernment,” and if any, only shows that imposing a sanction is nothing but an act of regression and “high handedness.”
Thus, it calls for the agency’s abolition, “or if at all, transformation into an information and media literacy that advances critical, intelligent, liberating, and sensible media production and audienceship.”
And ultimately, it calls for Lala to resign, as “her position and objectivity” were deeply compromised by the agency’s decision.
Read full statement below:
READ ALSO: “It’s Showtime” To Submit Motion For Reconsideration Over MTRCB Ruling
Banner Art Paulo Correa
