Child Rights and Women’s Rights Advocates File Complaint vs Willie, TV5 (updated)

I got a media request for coverage but got it late. I find this a bit strange because from what I know, the original complaint is supposed to be filed this wednesday by the child welfare agencies that are into this child abuse issues. Now, there is this group who filed first. So I wonder what is up…

(update 7pm) –the group that filed today is a legit women’s and children’s rights group. Jean Entiquez a sorority sister of my husband

Lawyers Cristina Sevilla and Marla Barcenilla trooped today together with children’s rights organizations and women’s rights advocates they represent. The group took legal action against TV 5 network and a popular host, citing Republic Act 7610 (Anti-Child Abuse Law of 1992), among other laws.

“The group, dubbed “Stop Child Rights Exploitation in Media” (SCREAM) filed the case before the Quezon City prosecutors’ office for violation of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), RA 9775 (An Act Defining the Crime of Child Pornography), RA 9231 (An Act Providing for Elimination of the Worse forms of Child Labor), among others.”

ECPAT, PACT, child rights advocates Amihan Abueva, Dolores Alforte, Sally Ujano and women’s rights advocates Jean Enriquez, Aida Santos and Lan Mercado-Carreon are up against media giants in what is deemed as a landmark case of child abuse.

“The seven-page complaint was filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Aside from Revillame, host of TV5’s prime time show “Willing Willie,” the other respondents were Rey Espinosa, TV5 president and CEO; Roberto Barreiro, executive vice president and CEO; Manuel Pangilinan, co-producer and chair of Associated Broadcasting Company; Jojo Jardeleza, director; Rackie Sevilla, executive producer; and Adrian Gret, segment producer.”

Excerpts from the complaint: “…the depiction of (child) by the above-named respondents in the March 12, 2011 segment of the subject game show, in such a sexualized … fashion is tantamount to abuse and exploitation that is prejudicial to (child)’s development… The degrading exhibition is compounded by the cruelty of the show’s main host, respondent Revillame, who kept on egging (child), mocking his performance and exclaiming amidst the laughter of the jeering crowd: Ganyan ho ang hirap ng buhay ng tao…pinahanga mo ako XXX. … Ibang klase ka XXX…(laughs) May luha pa iyan ha… Kaya niya ginagawa ‘yon para sa pamilya. … Towards the end of the segment, (child) was made to dance atop a stage that looked like a table while sexily clad women reached out for him from below, mimicking and simulating indecent shows in night clubs.”