Controversial Filipino TV Host Willie Revillame in Hot Water Again Over Child Abuse Charges
A day after Filipino gay comedian Vice Ganda and GMA 7 Vice President for News Jessica Soho patched things up over the furor caused by the comedian's weight and rape joke, another controversial TV host is in hot waters again over child abuse accusations.
But Filipino billionaire and TV-5 game show host Willie Revillame is no stranger to controversies. In his several years in show business, he has been suspended for lewd jokes made on air, was blamed for a stampede that took the lives and injured hundreds of fans, accused of rigging games and sued for not fulfilling his contract.
The latest accusation is child abuse which was filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office over a sexy dance performed by Jan-jan, a six-year-old male contestant in his weekly programme in TV-5 in March 2011.
The case, filed by the Department of Social Welfare and Council for the Welfare of Children, was raffled on Monday and would be handled by Judge Roberto Buenaventura or RTC Branch 86.
In response to the lawsuit, Jay Montelibano, the business unit head of the defunct show Willing Willie, send a statement from Revillame's lawyer, Atty Leonardo de Vera, that the accusations are baseless because there was no malice when the boy danced the body wave.
The lawyer pointed out that other children are dancing the same dance in other variety shows and it is also performed in different social gatherings. He claimed Revillame was singled out by the department.
The lawyer added that the kid had performed the same dance in school programmes and other talent contests even before he joined Willing Willie. He said the boy consulted a child psychologist and child psychiatrist after the incident and claims the results said there was no abuse.
"There is no reason why an innocent performance by a child, which he has been doing for years, will be branded as child abuse just because he performed this routing in Revillame's show," Mr de Vera said.
Just last week, Revillame announced he would take a long rest from show business when his contract with TV-5 ends in October and instead concentrate on his other business enterprises.
Despite these controversies and his perceived brash personality, Revillame is popular among the masses because his programmes give away millions of cash and prizes. However, the growing dependence of the poor on these kinds of sudden bonanzas or windfall has been criticised for not helping them develop good work ethics but instead rely on luck to succeed in life.