MTRCB denies TV5 appeal on Tulfo show

MANILA, Philippines - The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) denied yesterday the twin motions of ABC TV5 to suspend adjudication hearings and lift the 20-day suspension imposed on its “T3” program pending resolution of their petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals (CA).

Eugenio Villareal, MTRCB spokesman, told reporters during a press briefing that the three-member adjudication panel denied the motions of TV5 lawyers during yesterday’s hearing on the complaint against the television program of Erwin, Raffy and Ben Tulfo.

Villareal said the panel has ordered the prosecution and the defense to submit their position papers and comments, after which the case will be submitted for resolution.

“This is a case of national interest. It will be resolved in less than a month,” he said.

Villareal said that as of yesterday they have not yet received any notice or TRO from the CA, but they will comply in case it will be issued.

He insisted that they have jurisdiction over the T3 program because according to official documents submitted by the TV network, the controversial program has been classified as a “Public Affairs Program.”

He, however, clarified that their mandate only covers the TV network and sanction for the television hosts would be decided by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.

Earlier, the MTRCB said it has found probable cause over the complaint against the hosts of the TV program.

“Acting on numerous complaints from the general public and based on the board’s own monitoring, the Office of the MTRCB legal counsel has found probable cause to charge the television program ‘T3 Kapatid Sagot Kita,’ aired over TV5,” MTRCB chair Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares said in a statement.

She said the show violated Section 3(c) of Presidential Decree 1986 “for airing scenes and utterances that are indecent and contrary to law, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, or of a wrong or crime.”