Cebuana Lhuillier Pulled-out their Ads from the “Willing Willie” show

Cebuana Lhuillier
Cebuana Lhuillier

Cebuana Lhuillier, one of country’s largest pawnshop chains pulled out their ads together with three other companies from the television show “Willing Willie”.

Based on the statement released by the Cebuana Lhuillier on its official Facebook page, they temporarily suspend their sponsorship to the show and it will be effective on April 11, 2011 while the resolution regarding the matter is still pending.

A statement coming from Cebuana Lhuillier said that they will support programs that give hope to the Filipino people here and abroad but added that they also need to protect their reputation and expect that their business partners should promote good values, protect children’s rights and exercise prudence in communicating to the general public.

The suspension has been decide after the March 12 episode of “Willing Willie” show on TV5, which featured a six years old boy crying while simulating a striptease as show host Willie Revillame laughed and egged him on. This scene has earned a lot of critics coming from the public and government institutions that protect the rights and welfare of people.

As of now, cyber activists formed a social media groups demanding Willie to be removed from the show and calling for a product boycott to all sponsors of the show.

Last Saturday, Jollibee Foods Corporation also announced their holding off of ad placement from the show for its newly acquired Mang Inasal restaurant chain.

Among the companies that suspended their sponsorship for the show are Procter and Gamble Philippines and Del Monte Pacific Ltd.

Cebuana Lhuillier has acknowledge the action of the TV network after it has apologized for the episode and installed an internal ombudsman to avoid such incident to happen again.

They are also hoping the problem will be given the right action from the Network and will resolve the matter soon.

Regarding this matter, the Movie and Television Review and Cl(–foul word(s) removed–)ification Board have already begun an inquiry about the issue.