Network offers 'Wowowee' settlement

The legal counsel of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board on Tuesday asked the complainants against TV station ABS-CBN, which is under fire in connection with host Willie Revillame's alleged unethical behavior in his show "Wowowee", to appear before the board Thursday for a possible settlement with the network's management.

Jonathan S. Presquito, MTRCB chief legal counsel, said the complainants should come to their office at President's Tower on Timog Ave. in Quezon City at 1:30 p.m. Thursday to consider the network's proposed a settlement.

Revillame, 48, filed an indefinite leave of absence from ABS-CBN as a result of the barrage of criticisms hurled against him for allegedly showing disrespect to the late President Corazon Aquino during the transfer of Cory's remains from the De La Salle gym to the Manila Cathedral which was aired live at the same time that "Wowowee" was airing.

Aside from the alleged discourtesy to Mrs. Aquino, the TV host was also condemned by concerned citizens over his alleged offensive hosting style.

Last August 11, Presquito filed a consolidated complaint against Revillame based on the statements of at least three aggrieved parties identified as Arlene de Guzman-Ronquillo; Edward Berador and a certain "M. Ballesteros."

Also named respondents in the six-page complaint were ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation; Socorro Vidanes, ABS-CBN vice president for TV programming and entertainment; and Raymond Ronquillo, estranged husband of Arlene and a resident of 40 Spinach St., Valle Verde 5, Pasig City.

Arlene claimed that Revillame caused psychological pain on her three children - aged three, 11 and 12 - when he teased her estranged husband for a "Wowowee" dancer in at least five separate airings of the game show from March to July this year.

She said her two older children refused to go to school after they were subjected to humiliation by classmates who either viewed or heard about Revillame's uncalled for statements.

Arlene claimed that the two are now undergoing "psychological consultation".

Her eldest daughter also launched an "anti-Willie" campaign through her Facebook account.

The two other complainants called the attention of the MTRCB over "Wowowee's" alleged failure to comply with its Parental Guidance rating by repeatedly showing dancers in skimpy attires.

Presquito asked the MTRCB to impose a preventive suspension on "Wowowee's" showing of "indecent and obscene" performances while the investigations are ongoing.

The MTRCB has set another hearing on the issue on September 3, it was learned.


Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/mb/20090826/tel-network-offers-wowowee-settlement-2bf66ac.html