Even though Showtime has already resumed airing for several weeks now, ABS-CBN’s legal department still pressed charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against Movie and Television Review Board (MTRCB) Chairman Consoliza Laguardia and MTRCB resident lawyer Jonathan Presquito for violating the Anti-graft and Corruption Practices Act (or Republic Act 3019). The network further maintained that the 20-day suspension order given to Showtime last January 11 didn’t undergo due process. “We want the MTRCB Chairman and Atty. Presquito to be held responsible of their actions. The issuance of that preventive disorder was unfair and this is the only way that they can be hold accountable for their actions,” said ABS-CBN’s legal counsel Maxim Uy.

The issue with Showtime all started when guest judge Rosanna Rocess discredited the integrity of the teaching profession with her remarks in the January 7 episode. Although ABS-CBN management immediately took corresponding action by removing Rosanna from the show, the MTRCB still insisted on its suspension, which even led ABS-CBN Head of Corporate Communications Bong Osorio to ask, “Parang wala na silang gustong ABS-CBN program na ipalabas sa timeslot na ‘yan. Ano kaya ang meron sa timeslot na ‘yan at napag-iinitan,” at the time. The suspension was only lifted when the Court of Appeals finally granted Showtime a temporary restraining order on January 19.

Meanwhile, MTRCB was caught by surprise with the charges, saying that they were only doing their job in accordance to the law. Nevertheless, Atty. Presquito stressed that they will deal with the case as well as the allegations against them when the right time comes.

—with reports from TV Patrol

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