MTRCB, TV5 reach settlement

MANILA, Philippines - The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has agreed to lift its suspension of TV5 program “T3” hosted by the Tulfo brothers.

The suspension order was issued after the three brothers cursed and threatened the life of show biz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto on air.

Lawyers of the MTRCB from the Office of the Solicitor General and the counsel of TV5 agreed to an amicable settlement during a hearing at the Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday afternoon, rendering moot and academic the petition of the network for a temporary restraining order against the suspension.

MTRCB agreed to lift the 20-day preventive suspension order upon assurance from TV5 that the incident would not happen again.

It was clarified, however, that the first division of the appellate court chaired by Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. would still rule on the merits of the petition filed by TV5 – particularly on the legality of the suspension order.

TV5 president and CEO Ray Espinosa, in a petition filed last week, argued that the MTRCB abused its discretion is issuing the order since it has no authority to suspend news and public affairs shows.

Petitioner said the order should be annulled “for being unconstitutional and for having been issued without jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.”

Espinosa said the MTRCB’s suspension of the show constituted prior restraint, which violates the Constitution.

He said T3 is a news show that “cannot be censored or prevented from airing beforehand.”

He also stressed that TV5 had already imposed a three-day suspension on the three hosts for the same offense.

TV5 sought relief from the court after the MTRCB imposed last Thursday a 20-day preventive suspension on T3 pending its investigation into the alleged threats uttered by the show’s hosts against Barretto and Santiago following a brawl with their eldest brother Ramon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport a couple of Sundays back.

Tulfos have “private army”

Meanwhile, Barretto claimed in her petition for writ of amparo or temporary protection against the Tulfo brothers that the program’s hosts have a “private army.”

“We beg you. We hope you hear our plea. Grant us our petition. We have two kids and they can hardly go out of the house,” the sobbing actress told Judge Bayani Vargas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 219.

She said she knew the threats were serious and the Tulfo brothers “were capable.”

Barretto said she now feared for the safety of her husband after the T3 episode.

The actress, in a white button-down shirt, was soft-spoken during her court appearance but broke into tears when she recalled the now infamous airport brawl.

“He just kicked me twice and pushed me against the counter,” the actress said, referring to Ramon.

The Santiagos had asked the court to bar the Tulfos from approaching them within 500 meters and requested for police escorts from the Police Security Protection Office.

Lawyer Nelson Borja, who represents Erwin, maintained that there was no threat against the couple.

After the hearing, the couple’s lawyers said friends of the couple have raised money to provide monetary reward for those who could provide a video footage of the entire incident.

They said what has been circulating on the Internet aims to make it appear that the couple instigate the airport brawl.

They urged witnesses to contact the law office at tel 889-4363 to 65. – Reinir Padua