Vice Ganda and Ion Perez faced the charges filed against them
Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda and his partner Ion Perez, both hosts of Kapamilya noontime show It’s Showtime, went to court to face the cases filed against them by the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters ng Pilipinas (KSMBPI).
Back in September, the KSMBPI officially filed a complaint against Vice and Ion due to the icing incident that happened on the show’s segment Isip Bata. This caught the attention of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) as reportedly, the board received complaints that the incident was inappropriate.
Because of that incident, the MTRCB ordered the 12 airing day suspension of It’s Showtime which happened earlier this month.
The same incident pushed the KSMBPI to file charges against the celebrity couple. Based on the report from The Manila Times, the hearing started on November 13, Monday. Vice Ganda and Ion Perez went to the Quezon City prosecutor’s office to face the complaints.
They are facing two cases. One is the violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), which prohibits obscene exhibitions and indecency. It has a penalty of prison mayor (a jail term of six to 12 years) or a fine ranging from P6,000 to P12,000, or both jail depending on the judge’s discretion.
The other one was the violation of Republic Act 10175, or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 which inhibits anyone from propagating “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.”
Atty. Leo Olarte, the lawyer of KSMBPI said that they have sufficient evidence to file charges against the celebrity couple and expect the success of the legal battle they started. “Since this was aired nationwide, definitely many of our youth — children and minors — watched this very popular show,” the lawyer said.
Olarte also stressed that the “act” that Vice Ganda and Ion Perez has “polluted, offended and influenced immorally these pristine minds by watching these inappropriate demonstrations in the said show.” He added that this should not be tolerated.
Vice and Ion responded to this statement from the KSMBPI against them. “Complainant, who seems to be coming from a homophobic mindset, obviously singled us out by accusing us of doing obscene acts by eating various food using our fingers,” the couple stated.