Wowowee mess: MTRCB wants to file admin raps, DTI probe on

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) committee said that the investigation on the "Wilyonaryo" incident last August 20, 2007 is still ongoing, though no concrete evidence can surely say that cheating occurred on the said segment. Nevertheless, further investigation on the rules and mechanics of the "Wilyonaryo" segment may pit ABS-CBN into a Consumer Act violation since the DTI fact-finding committee found a "probable cause" to charge ABS-CBN of administrative charges. The DTI committee made it clear that the filing of administrative charges against ABS-CBN is for the possible violation of the Consumer Act and not because of cheating that happened. The committee also said that Wowowee host Wille Revillame may be called to a hearing if the prosecution wishes to do so. As a precaution to future indiscretions, the DTI recommended that all TV game shows first secure a permit from the agency for all their game segments. ABS-CBN, however, contested this by saying that no DTI permits are necessary since game show segments are not sales and promotional activities. Also, ABS-CBN has had since denied any allegation that they attempted to rig the results of "Wilyonaryo" and reported that the "cheating" was merely a design flaw in the props used during the incident. The segment was already scrapped from the show after this controversy erupted. MTRCB RECOMMENDS ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES. Meanwhile, the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has decided that it would file administrative charges against ABS-CBN since , according to them, "Wilyonaryo" showed irregularities. MTRCB chairperson Consoliza Laguardia refused to give the details on the said recommendations, though she confirmed that one of them was filing administrative charges against ABS-CBN. The decision to file charges was based on DTI's fact-finding committee. "I think lahat ng panelists naman ay naging fair sa lahat ng naging decisions nila at sa lahat ng recommendations nila, as far as 'Wilyonaryo' segment of Wowowee is concerned," Laguardia said. Laguardia then proceeded to remind all game show hosts to be more careful about what they say since children are watching their shows. "Be more cautious, be more careful, and be more sensitive to the contestants and the viewing public para masabi na ang mga game shows ay talagang walang halo pandaraya," Laguardia warned. - Philippine Entertainment Portal