NPC slams Willie Revillame for ‘arrogant’ remarks against footage of Cory in Wowowee

The National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday criticized TV host Willie Revillame for displaying “sheer arrogance" against the simultaneously showing of footage of former President Corazon Aquino’s cortege in his noon time show “Wowowee" last Monday. In a statement, NPC president Benny Antiporda said Revillame should be reminded of former President Corazon Aquino’s important role on the existence of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network. “Mr. Revillame should be reminded that without President Aquino, his show would not be of existence. The owners and management of the network owed everything to the late president. Just as all journalists and entertainers owe Tita Cory the freedoms we now all enjoy," Antiporda said in a statement. “His grumpiness was deeply annoying for the thousands of local and international viewers of his show who were mourning Tita Cory’s passing, including the officers and members of the NPC," he added. Filipinos based in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere have also started passing around via the Internet a petition to the ABS-CBN management seeking the ouster of Revillame from the noontime show. The petition was also addressed to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA). In his show last Monday, Revillame asked the network management to remove the inset of Mrs. Aquino’s cortege in his show. “Hindi siguro magandang tingnan na pinapakita niyo yan (Mrs. Aquino’s footage). Nagsasaya kami tapos pinapakita niyo yung, I don't think dapat ipakita yan." “Eh mahihirapan akong magsalita rito. Nagpapasaya ako nakikita ko ‘yung ano (cortege) ni Tita Cory. Sana pakitanggal naman muna ‘yan sa ating traffic. Kasi kung ganyan pakita nalang natin ‘yan kasi nagsasaya kami dito tapos masakit sa akin yan. Nagsasalita ako dito yan Pls, sana maintindhan niyo, nagsasaya kami dito papakita niyo sa amin yun. Diba? Hindi tama eh okay?" “Hay nako. Pangit. Hindi maganda ho sa atin nagsasalita pinapakita yung kabaong ni Tita Cory. Diba? Paano kami magkakapagsaya nahihirapan kami? I'm sorry ho ah pero ako totoo ako eh. ‘Wag niyo akong papagalitan...Pagkatapos ng show pakita niyo ‘yung gusto niyong ipalabas. Kasi itong Wowowee gusto ko at alam din ni Tita Cory ‘yan kasi napasaya din siya ng show na ito na laging masaya dito. Okay?" Flak Revillame’s statement drew flak from people online including those abroad. His nearly two-minute speech, likewise, did not escape the bitter reaction of TV hosts Joey de Leon and Vic Sotto. “Wag mong tinataboy ang mahahalagang balita," Sotto said without naming Revillame in their long-running noontime show Eat Bulaga on GMA 7.. De Leon said: “Mahahalagang balita katulad ng namatay ang presidente important ‘yan eh wag natin bastusin. ‘Yung basta ipaalis mo…pinapili mo pa ako o yung balita. Eh kung siya kaya yung pinaparada diba? (A former president’s passing is a very important news to the whole nation and it should not be treated with disdain. What if he (Revillame) is the one being paraded?)" In an open letter posted on Youtube a Filipino based abroad expressed disappointment over Revillame’s remarks. “Kung nahihirapan ka man sa mga nagyayari sana hindi mo sinabi on air ang mga binitawan mong salita. Bagcos, ay off air mo na lang sinabihan ang production niyo about sa kaganapang pagluluksa sa isa sa mga taong itinuturing nating bayani," it said. (If you are having difficulties with what’s happening, you should not complain about it on air. You should talk with management off air)a An e-mail sent to GMANews.TV by Saudi-based Leo Manolis aired a similar sentiment. He even called the MTRCB to ensure that such lapses will not happen again. Apology A day after his controversial remark, Revillame apologized through Wowowee and clarified that he had no ill-intentions when he sought the removal of the footage. “Sa sitwasyon na ito, kung may nasaktan ako, I’m sorry. Sa pamilya Aquino, alam ng buong pamilya Aquino, wala akong masamang intensyon doon (I’m sorry if what I did hurt anyone. The entire Aquino family knows I have no bad intentions)," Revillame said. He explained that as a host of a supposed lively show it would be hard for him to make the people happy if Mrs. Aquino’s casket is simultaneously shown. As if he owns ABS-CBN Antiporda said Revillame should have been more circumspect. He added that the host should have voluntarily sacrificed to prevent the people from lashing out against him. Antiporda further said that Revillame “placed the integrity of the network in question" by asking the management to choose between Wowowee and Mrs. Aquino's procession. “He, probably unwittingly, pictured ABS-CBN as insensitive. Just like him," Antiporda said adding by throwing tantrums in front of the camera Revillame acted like as if he owns the network. GMANews.TV called ABS-CBN for their reaction but was told to call back on Friday as people authorized to speak on the matter are not available. - GMANews.TV