TV5 suspends participation of minors

TV5 on Wednesday, March 30, announced that it will impose a moratorium on the participation of minors in all of the network's contests and game shows.

The suspension was the network's reaction to an ongoing probe of the Commission on Human Rights and the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board and a complaint from the Department of Social Welfare and Development on the alleged maltreatment of a six-year-old contestant in the early evening program "Willing Willie."

In an advisory sent to Yahoo! OMG! Philippines, TV5 also indicated it was "conducting a thorough investigation on the incident." The network also said it has enforced "stricter guidelines on the appearance and performance of minors, particularly children, on all TV5 programs. In addition, it said all auditions on "Willing Willie" will "be supervised by TV5 representatives designated by the TV5 Ombudsman."

The advisory said TV5 Chief Legal Counsel Christine Ona has been designated as the network's Ombudsman. Ona is tasked to handle viewer complaints regarding its programs.

Furthermore, TV5 said it welcomes external probes on the matter.

"We welcome the hearings of the MTRCB and other bodies as opportunities to further thresh out the issues and find solutions that will address the many concerns that have been expressed," the statement said.