MTRCB issues notice to 'It's Showtime' following Vice Ganda and Ion Perez's cake icing scene
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) issued a notice to appear and testify to the producers of noontime variety show It's Showtime on July 31 over the alleged indecent acts of hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez on air.
During the show's July 25 episode, the two were being sweet toward each other, with Ion holding a cake and using his fingers to taste the icing.
Ion can be seen closing his eyes as he slowly licks the icing off his fingers. He then approaches Vice, who takes some of the icing from Ion's fingers with her own before tasting it.
The MTRCB in a Facebook post noted the scene was a violation of Section 3c of Presidential Decree No. 1986, which created the board.
The section states the MTRCB has the power to "approve or disapprove, delete objectionable portions from and/or prohibit the importation, exportation, production, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition and/or television broadcast of the motion pictures, television programs, and publicity materials."
The "power" is supposedly in line with "contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard" when the portions are deemed "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."
Prior to the incident, the board seemingly alluded to the wardrobe malfunction incident on It's Showtime's July 14 episode, which featured a dance number from performer Regine Tolentino. Without mentioning any television show, the MTRCB in a memorandum reminded "all Television (TV) Networks, Blocktimers, Program Producers, and Distributors" to make it a point that the garments worn by talents "are secure and suitable for their performances."
Tolentino took to Facebook to apologize over the "unfortunate incident," noting how her costume was still being prepared seconds before going on stage. "Because of the rush and stress before hitting the stage, the other nipple tape was not secured properly, but the costume itself was super safe," she said. "Unfortunately, when I started dancing, mejo na over 'hataw' ko and I had a costume mishap that I discovered halfway through my performance."
"I would like to extend my apologies for this unfortunate incident," she continued.
The MTRCB has the mandate to regulate television shows and cinemas. Though the mandate doesn't cover streaming services, the board has launched its "Responsableng Panonood" campaign to promote safeguards in platforms like Netflix and Vivamax.