Host Willie Revillame goes on indefinite leave

As of Tuesday morning, 303,244 people clicked “like" on a Facebook fan-page posting "Let Willie Revillame Resign on ABS-CBN," even as television network has announced that it agreed to allow the show host to go on an indefinite leave. The decision seemed to be a response to Revillame's letter dated May 12 asking that he be released as an ABS-CBN talent. [See: Willie Revillame asks ABS-CBN to release him] "I have come to realize that my gratitude to the network would be more meaningful if I considered the impact of my recent actions which has placed the station in a bad light. This is among the reasons, as I will explain in this letter, that I humbly request the management, to release me as a talent of the network," he wrote. In his letter, he mentioned several incidents that reportedly frustrated him, including the infamous Ultra stampede. [See: Ultra tragedy] The most recent incident was his on-air outburst in reaction to radio host and The Buzz segment host Jobert Sucaldito, who he claimed had been making negative comments about “Revillame and Wowowee." Meanwhile, the number of those to who liked the "Let Willie Revillame Resign on ABS-CBN" posting continue to swell by the hundreds every hour. To see the posting, click here. In last Monday’s meeting between Revillame and ABS-CBN, the network accepted Revillame's apology and made known the decision for Revillame to take an indefinite break effective immediately, but his contract obligations with the network remain. “Willie has realized his mistake and apologized to ABS-CBN management for his outburst on air in Wowowee on May 4, 2010, and his failure to report to work since May 5, 2010. ABS-CBN management has accepted Willie’s apology," the network said. "This disallows him to perform similar work for any person or entity in direct competition with ABS-CBN," added Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications, who sent the statement to the Philippine Entertainment Portal on May 25. Whether or not he will eventually resign is up in the air as of the moment. "At some point, ABS-CBN management and Willie will discuss what will be in the best interest of the viewing public," read the statement. If the “Let Willie Revillame Resign on ABS-CBN" fan page on Facebook is any indication of the viewing public's interest, it appears they are all too eager to bid Revillame farewell, and welcome Robin Padilla as his replacement. A post on Facebook read: "Astig mag host si Binoy!!! Yan ang host! Magalang, matipuno at hindi bastos!!! Go Binoy!!!" posting was liked by 7,190 people as of Tuesday morning. The action star has taken over Revillame's hosting duties since he disappeared from the show on May 5, a day after his outburst against Sucaldito. - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV