'Willing Willie' March 12 episode, which featured 6-year-old Jan-Jan Suan doing macho dance in exchange of P10,000, has been strongly condemned by the Commission on Human Rights or CHR.
In its statement released March 29, 2011, CHR noted that the said March 12 episode of Willing Willie exploited Jan-Jan's innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.
CHR also pointed out that Willing Willie and its host Willie Revillame are not the only ones who committed child abuse, but also Jan-Jan's parents because of their willingness to expose him to such humiliating and degrading situation.
Last March 28, Jan-Jan's parents already appeared on Willing Willie and for them, the show and its host did not abuse their child. (Read about it HERE and join the discussion).
Here's the full statement, as posted on Facebook by journalist Ms. Ellen Tordesillas:
Commission on Human Rights
For Release
29 March 2011
CHR on Child Abuse in the TV program Willing Willie
The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the “Willing Willie” episode aired on March 12, 2011 wherein a 6-year old boy named Jan-Jan Suan performed a “macho-dancing routine”. This is an exploitation of the child’s innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.
The multiple pressures exerted on Jan-Jan by the TV program’s host, audience, and his parents to perform a humiliating act in exchange for ten thousand pesos constitute child abuse as defined in Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610 or “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.” It provides that:
Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development. –
(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period.
The willingness of Jan-Jan’s parents to expose him, both in private and public, to a humiliating and degrading situation is child abuse. The Commission is also deeply alarmed that the abuse suffered by Jan-Jan was seen on national television and that its videos are being repeatedly watched by the public, including children.
The Commission will investigate this incident in order to identify the person/s liable and to recommend proper legal actions against them. The Commission will also issue recommendations to relevant private, especially TV5, and public agencies in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The Commission also calls upon the relevant government offices such as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to undertake the appropriate actions to address this incidence of child abuse and to provide the necessary relief to Jan-Jan.
LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES
Chairperson
MA. VICTORIA V. CARDONA
Commissioner
Focal Commissioner for Children
Meanwhile, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB will also release their own findings with regards to that Willing Willie episode this coming Monday, April 4, 2011.
***
Speaking of that March 12 episode of Willing Willie, a video of it uploaded on Youtube has already reached more than half a million views.
In its statement released March 29, 2011, CHR noted that the said March 12 episode of Willing Willie exploited Jan-Jan's innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.
CHR also pointed out that Willing Willie and its host Willie Revillame are not the only ones who committed child abuse, but also Jan-Jan's parents because of their willingness to expose him to such humiliating and degrading situation.
Last March 28, Jan-Jan's parents already appeared on Willing Willie and for them, the show and its host did not abuse their child. (Read about it HERE and join the discussion).
Here's the full statement, as posted on Facebook by journalist Ms. Ellen Tordesillas:
Commission on Human Rights
For Release
29 March 2011
CHR on Child Abuse in the TV program Willing Willie
The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the “Willing Willie” episode aired on March 12, 2011 wherein a 6-year old boy named Jan-Jan Suan performed a “macho-dancing routine”. This is an exploitation of the child’s innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.
The multiple pressures exerted on Jan-Jan by the TV program’s host, audience, and his parents to perform a humiliating act in exchange for ten thousand pesos constitute child abuse as defined in Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610 or “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.” It provides that:
Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development. –
(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period.
The willingness of Jan-Jan’s parents to expose him, both in private and public, to a humiliating and degrading situation is child abuse. The Commission is also deeply alarmed that the abuse suffered by Jan-Jan was seen on national television and that its videos are being repeatedly watched by the public, including children.
The Commission will investigate this incident in order to identify the person/s liable and to recommend proper legal actions against them. The Commission will also issue recommendations to relevant private, especially TV5, and public agencies in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The Commission also calls upon the relevant government offices such as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to undertake the appropriate actions to address this incidence of child abuse and to provide the necessary relief to Jan-Jan.
LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES
Chairperson
MA. VICTORIA V. CARDONA
Commissioner
Focal Commissioner for Children
Meanwhile, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB will also release their own findings with regards to that Willing Willie episode this coming Monday, April 4, 2011.
***
Speaking of that March 12 episode of Willing Willie, a video of it uploaded on Youtube has already reached more than half a million views.
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