Willie Revillame's leave extended, sexy dance numbers removed

abs-cbnews.com

MANILA - Fans of popular TV host Willie Revillame will have to wait a little while longer before he returns on-air after ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. decided to extend his leave until next month.

A statement from the Kapamilya Network said the company will extend Revillame's leave from his hit show "Wowowee" until September 20, 2009. It also ordered the removal of the sexy dancing segment of "Wowowee" mainstays Luningning and Saicy from the show. 

The network said that in the interest of self-regulation, it availed of the conciliation process under the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Rules of Procedure. It said the MTRCB has approved the sanctions imposed on the show. 

Revillame, 48, has been on indefinite leave from his top-rating noontime show "Wowowee" after he drew heavy criticism when he ordered, on-air, the removal of procession footage of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino's funeral convoy on August 3.

The transfer of Mrs. Aquino's remains from La Salle Greenhills to the Manila Cathedral was aired simultaneously with "Wowowee" through a small inset video. Revillame ordered it removed because he said it was disrespectful to the former president and dampened the show's mood.

The full statement of ABS-CBN is as follows: 

"In the interest of self-regulation, ABS-CBN has availed of the conciliation process under Section 6, Rule 7, of the MTRCB Rules of Procedures, regarding the incidents involving Mr. Willie Revillame in the program Wowowee. After having considered the facts, issues and terms of self-regulation to be imposed in the pertinent cases, the MTRCB has approved the same.

"Whereof, the ABS-CBN shall undertake to perform the following: 

"1. Extend Mr. Revillame's leave until 20 September 2009; and,
"2. Remove the present dance segment of Luningning and Saicy.

"Further, ABS-CBN reiterates that it is fully aware of its legal and moral responsibilities as a broadcaster and shall undertake to continue to uphold the values and customs of the Filipino viewing public."

Apology not enough

Revillame's action was condemned in various online forums, which culminated in an online petition to have him removed from the show. The petition has gathered 60,927 signatures since it was launched earlier this month.

Revillame has publicly apologized for his on-air rant and has offered to leave the show. 

"My intention there was not to disrespect the former president but to give respect. Sana lang po ay habang nagluluksa tayo ay hindi kami nakikitang nagsasaya, parang hindi kami nakikidalamhati," he said in an ABS-CBN interview. 

"Kung ako'y hindi nila wine-welcome at sa tingin ko ho na ako'y hindi na welcome sa bawa't Pilipino, sa araw-araw na gusto nila makasama, ako po'y aalis na sa programa," he said. 

The children of the late former President Cory Aquino, meanwhile, said they have accepted Willie's apology.

Last August 11, MTRCB chief legal counsel Jonathan S. 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 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.

The two other complainants also called the attention of the MTRCB over Wowowee’s failure to comply with its Parental Guidance rating by repeatedly showing dancers in skimpy attire.