MTRCB clarifies 'It's Showtime' suspension not yet final; Lala Sotto inhibits from voting

The Movie and Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB) clarified that the suspension of "It's Showtime" is not yet final and executory.

According to Nelson Canlas's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, the MTRCB said that it is still waiting for the case's "finality."

"With others, puwede naman talagang ma-suspend na kanina pa lang. But no, again, in the spirit of fairness, we're giving them the chance kaya hindi sila suspended today. We will wait for its finality," MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto said.

The MTRCB suspended the noontime show for 12 airing days after several viewers lodged complaints about its July 25 episode, where hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez allegedly acted in an indecent manner in the "Isip Bata" segment.

Meanwhile, Sotto denied accusations that the agency is just picking on "It's Showtime."

Lala is the daughter of former Senate President Tito Sotto, who has a noontime show on a different station.

"No, that is not true. Siguro natural lang naman sa mga supporters ang maging ganoon ang pakiramdam kasi siguro naririnig nila na parating na-re-report. But hindi po kasalanan ng MTRCB ang violations na ginagawa nila," she said, adding that the MTRCB board decided upon the case of the show.

In a statement, the agency said that Lala inhibited from voting, "ensuring that members of the Board exercised their independent judgment in determining the appropriate course of action."

ABS-CBN said they will file a motion for reconsideration with the MTRCB.

Following the MTRCB decision on to suspend "It's Showtime," Vice Ganda shared a motivating quote in an Instagram post.

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity," the post read.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News