MANILA, Philippines — Kinundena ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) ang diumano'y pagtarget ng ilang netizens sa kanilang chairperson — ang ilan dito, nauuwi na raw sa nakababahalang mga banta.
Inilabas ng MTRCB ang pahayag, Huwebes, matapos ang kontrobersyal na desisyong isuspindi ng 12-araw ang "It's Showtime" kaugnay ng pagsusubuan ng icing ng cake ang hosts at real-life sweethearts na sina Vice Ganda at Ion Perez.
Ang naturang gawi ay inireklamong "malaswa" ng ilan. Ang ilan naman, walang nakitang masama sa paglalambingan ng dalawang hosts on air.
“Over the past weeks, we have experienced an unfortunate surge in threatening messages on our official social media pages, including explicit rape and death threats directed at Chairperson Lala Sotto," ani MTRCB Vice Chairman Njel De Mesa.
“Chairperson Lala Sotto is a dedicated public servant who has spent her career advocating for responsible and inclusive media content. She has consistently championed the importance of media content that respects cultural sensitivities while contributing positively to the Philippine entertainment industry."
Paliwanag ng board, kinikilala naman nila ang kahalagahan ng constructive criticism at dayalogo, ngunit kapuna-puna raw ang anumang banta ng karahasan sa loob at labas ng internet.
Anito, hindi lang ito iligal ngunit kontra sa kulturang itinataguyod ng MTRCB.
"No Filipino deserves such kind of unfounded personal attack. We must not resort to personal attacks because our agency is just doing its mandate," dagdag ni MTRCB Executive Director II Atty. Mamarico Sansarona Jr.
"We are happy that our Chair is very active in discharging the functions of our office based on existing laws."
Lala Sotto pinagbibitiw
Halos isang linggo pa lang ang nakalilipas nang manawagan ang broadcast department ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ng agarang pagbibitiw ni Sotto, sa dahilang masyado raw malala ang parusa.
“While our stand is not about a specific program, MTRCB’s recent imposition of a 12-day airing suspension on ABS-CBN’s noontime show ‘It’s Showtime’ is a clear demonstration of the point about the agency’s lack of wisdom and discernment. We assert that this sanction is nothing but severe,” sabi ng departamento.
“We also call for the resignation of MTRCB Chair Diorella Maria ‘Lala’ Sotto, whose pronouncements on national TV evidently compromised her position and objectivity as a public official.”
“A vestige of a regime of control and oppression, [the MTRCB] proves, time and again, its being a bastion of conservatism."
Kasalukuyang nakaeere pa rin ang "It's Showtime" matapos nilang maghain ng motion for reconsideration.
Bagama't iginigiit ni Sotto na naging patas siya sa desisyong suspensyon, kinekwestyon ng marami kung bakit "inappropriate" ang lambingan ng LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community sa telebisyon habang pinapayagan ang matinding halikan nina dating Sen. Tito Sotto at asawang si Helen Gamboa sa E.A.T.
Si Lala Sotto ay anak nina Tito Sotto at Helen Gamboa. Ang dating senador ay bahagi ng karibal na noontime show ng "It's Showtime."