Controversial television host Willie Revillame has filed a three-week leave of absence from game show “Wowowee” believed to be triggered by mounting protests on his emotional outburst over the insertion of a live coverage of former President Corazon Aquino’s funeral procession in the high-rating ABS-CBN noontime show.
According to well-placed sources from ABS-CBN, Revillame’s leave of absence took effect during the live airing of “Wowowee” last Saturday, August 8, in ABS-CBN.
During Monday’s noontime showing of “Wowowee”, the 48-yearold Revillame was also a no-show amid the expression of support from some of his followers present in the studio who showed placards that said: “Willie, kasama mo kami (Willie, we are with you).
ABS-CBN has yet to issue a formal announcement over Revillame’s status on the high-rating “Wowowee” game show amid mounting calls for him to be suspended or removed for allegedly showing disrespect to the former president who was laid to rest last August 5 at the Manila Memorial
Park.
“Willie has gone on leave. He will be out for at least three weeks,” a well-placed source from ABS-CBN network said.
Pretty TV co-host Mariel Rodriguez and comedian “Pokwang” took over the hosting work for “Wowowee.”
Revillame, who was suspended at least twice from his previous hosting jobs from different game shows, caught the ire of the public anew when he ordered the producers to remove the insertion of the live-coverage of Mrs. Aquino’s funeral cortege which, he said, was inappropriate for a game show like “Wowowee”.
Aside from the incident involving the Aquino funeral procession, Revillame was also a subject of complaint before the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for making alleged unethical comments in “Wowowee” that reportedly caused embarrassment and emotional depression to children of a couple who are presently experiencing marital problems.
A woman complainant, who requested not to be identified, had sought the help the MTRCB to conduct an investigation over Revillame’s alleged unethical behavior when he teased a “Wowowee” dancer to her estranged husband, identified as Raymond Ronquillo, sometime last March.
The incident happened while their three children – aged three, 11 and 12 – while watching the popular game show.
A similar incident occurred last July 28 that prompted the woman complainant to ask MTRCB authorities to impose punitive measures against Revillame for unethical behavior while on the prime TV game show.
Also named respondents in her complaint were ABS-CBN Corporation and Wowowee dancer Aiko Climaco who is her estranged husband’s alleged present love interest.
According to the complainant, her children have refused to go to school after they were subjected to humiliation by their classmates and friends that resulted from Revillame’s uncalled for statements in “Wowowee.”
Revillame’s outburst over the simultaneous airing of the funeral procession of Mrs. Aquino prompted some concerned citizens to push for an on-line signature drive to pressure ABS-CBN management to either suspend or to ban Revillame from appearing on TV shows.
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