30 Aug 2007

            Senate to probe alleged Wowowee scam

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 06:25pm (Mla time) 08/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said on Thursday he is filing a resolution on Friday to investigate the alleged cheating in one of the games featured in the ABS-CBN network's noontime show, "Wowowee," hosted by comedian Willie Revillame.

Roxas' announcement was made a couple of hours after comedian Joey de Leon, who co-hosts the noontime show Eat Bulaga on ABS-CBN rival GMA, called on the Senate to investigate what he called the "Hello, Papie" incident during the "Wilyonaryo" game portion of Wowowee's August 29 episode.

Papie is the nickname Revillame is known by on the show and Wilyonaryo is a new game that replaced the old Pera o Bayong segment.

Clips of the alleged cheating have been circulating on the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube.

In the clips, after the wining contestant opted to take a cash prize of P137,000 instead of risking a shot at the P2-million jackpot and other major prizes, Revillame is seen taking a wheel in which the jackpot was supposed to be, only to draw a zero.

He then says it was a mistake, reaches behind the wheel and appears to draw out from the same wheel the tag for the P2 million.

Reports say ABS-CBN has cleared Revillame, attributing the incident to a mechanical glitch, but the controversy has continued to rage and triggered an on-air exchange between the hosts of the rival shows.

"We will look into this [Wowowee controversy] by first asking the DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] what are the complaints, who are the complainants, and what it has done and intends to do about this matter," Roxas, who chairs the Senate committee on trade and commerce, told reporters.

"Based on this information, we shall file an appropriate resolution for a Senate inquiry with the end goal of strengthening the Consumer Welfare Code," he added.

Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who chairs the Senate committee on public information, said he supports any investigation the chamber will undertake into the alleged Wowowee scam but cautioned against prejudging the show.

"Huwag muna tayong maghusga. Maghintay tayo kung mayroong pormal na reklamo na ihahain sa Department of Trade and Industry, ang kaukulang ahensyang nakakasakop sa ganitong usapin [Let's not make any judgments yet. Let's wait until there's a formal complaint before the Department of Trade and Industry, the appropriate agency that covers this type of issue]," Revilla said in a statement.

"Kaugnay nito, malamang na hindi sa committee on public information ito babagsak. Gayunpaman, susuportahan ko ang anumang imbestigasyon ng Senado sa nasabing isyu [In relation to this, it might not fall under the committee on public information. In any case, I will support whatever Senate investigation on the said issue]. If it will be referred to my committee, I will certainly act on it, but I do not see any reason to initiate such an action at this stage," he added.

Senator Manuel Lapid, who chairs the Senate committee on games, amusement, and sports, said his committee will also investigate the alleged game-rigging, but only after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board finishes its own probe of the incident.

Both Revilla and Lapid are actors.

During Thursday's Eat Bulaga episode, De Leon said: "Para sa mga taga Senado, iwan nyo na yang Hello Garci at tingnan itong Hello Papie [For those in the Senate, leave Hello Garci and look into Hello Papie]."

"Hello Garci" is the controversy involving the leaking of purported wiretapped conversations between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano that supposedly prove that the administration cheated during the 2004 elections.

De Leon said the probe is important because some hosts allegedly rig their contests in favor of some contestants.

"Ito'y para sa ating lahat. Gusto namin nagsasaya lalung-lalo na para sa mga naghahanap ng swerte [This is for all of us. We just want to bring joy, especially to those who are seeking their fortune]," he said.


Copyright 2007 INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
            

               Author: RougeCareyChannel

               Keywords:  Joey de Leon Wowowee Scam controversy Willie Revillame ABS CBN TFC

               Added: August 30, 2007