TV stations urged to respect children

ON THE heels of the resolution of the controversial episode of the game show "Willing Willie" on March 12, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) appealed to all television stations to start putting prime on respect to the dignity of children.

Fr. Francis Lucas, media relation officer of the CBCP, said TV programs have the responsibility of promoting respect to children's dignity as required by moral codes.

"Immorality becoming popular does not make it moral... A child's dignity has no conflicts," he said. "We hope that all TV programs would learn from this lesson."

Last Tuesday, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) imposed a one-month suspension on the TV5 show "Willing Willie" over the episode wherein a six-year-old boy contestant repeatedly gyrated like a macho dancer that netted him P10,000.

The popular TV show will return on air on May 9 as the penalty credits the off-air days that began when the game show voluntarily went off the air last April 11.

Fr. Lucas, though, refused to comment on the MTRCB ruling, saying it is a legal matter between the government agency and the show's producers. (AMN/Sunnex)