ABS-CBN 'exploring all remedies and options' after MTRCB denies 'It's Showtime' motion for reconsideration
ABS-CBN Corporation is now "exploring all remedies and options" following MTRCB's move to deny It's Showtime's motion for reconsideration in line with its 12-day suspension.
"We have received the decision of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board denying our Motion for Reconsideration regarding It's Showtime and are currently exploring all our remedies and options," the network said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 28.
ABS-CBN noted that the imposed suspension is "not yet final and executory," so the program's viewers can continue to watch the show on its television channels Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and GTV as well as social media platforms like Kapamilya Online Live, iWANTTFC, and TFC.
"We are truly grateful for the unwavering love and support that we have received from our viewers," the media company said. "We remain committed to bringing joy and inspiration to our beloved Madlang People."
Kapuso and Kapamilya executives Annette Gozon and Cory Vidanes dropped by It's Showtime on the same day that the suspension ruling was affirmed to greet its audiences.
In a statement released earlier in the day, the MTRCB said that the Aug. 17 decision of its board committee "is affirmed," noting that the noontime program violated Section 3 (c) of Presidential Decree No. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
"Said MRs sought relief from the Board's ruling dated August 17, 2023, regarding the July 25, 2023 episode of the live noontime television program 'It's Showtime!' Specifically, during the show's 'Isip Bata' segment in which hosts Ryan Bang, Vice Ganda, and Ion Perez allegedly acted indecently or inappropriately in the presence of children, which is alleged to have violated Section 3 (c) of Presidential Decree No. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations," it said.
In the segment in question, hosts and real-life couple Vice and Ion can be seen being sweet toward each other, with the latter holding a cake and using his fingers to taste the icing. Ion closes 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 denial of the entertainment company's MR comes after MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio said that the show and its producers failed to hold a discussion with the board after its filing.
"We gave them a 15-day period for them to be able to file a motion for reconsideration because we wanted to give them the chance to cooperate with us, to enter into a dialogue at least or to coordinate, but that did not happen, and we also wanted to give them due process," Sotto stressed during the discussion of the proposed budget of the MTRCB for 2024.
According to Sotto, ABS-CBN and GMA can file an appeal to the Office of the President within 15 days.