Human rights lawyer says Revillame's rights violated

A human rights lawyer has come to the defense of television host Willie Revillame, who has been accused of child abuse in criminal and administrative cases filed before five different government offices. Attorney Romeo Capulong, best known for defending leftist activists, said, “I have reviewed the unedited clip and am persuaded that neither Mr. Revillame nor the station had the intent to abuse Jan-jan or any of the child contestants. Intent is a state of mind and nothing in the video shows any intent to degrade, debase or demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of Jan-jan," Capulong added that Revillame's case has “grave human rights implications, including the right to due process or the ‘right to be heard’ which is being denied the television host by the government agencies which have already pre-judged him of having committed child abuse." He raised concerns about public statements of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales. He said it is clear from their public pronouncements that they have already pre-judged the incident as an open-and-shut case of child abuse," adding that since his client was accused of a crime which carries a heavy penalty of imprisonment “it is incumbent upon both officials to have remained above the fray so as not to raise any specter of bias of partiality." “Mr. Revillame has been haled before no less than five different fora: the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Justice (DOJ)," Capulong said. The MTRCB has already come out with a decision, stating that it has no jurisdiction over “personalities" like Revillame. But the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), a private association set up for the self-regulation of broadcasters, is looking into the alleged child abuse incident on Revillame’s show on TV5 “Willing Willie" where a six-year old boy was repeatedly made to perform like a “macho dancer" while in tears and being cheered and laughed at by a studio audience. 'Effort to divert issue' Reacting to Capulong’s statement, Froilan Grate – who started an online campaign to protest the crying dancing boy incident – said in his email to GMA News Online, “We are saddened by the efforts of Mr. Revillame's camp to once again divert the issue." He said, “Cases have been filed in court to give him the opportunity to answer these charges. We commend and support the various government agencies which promptly acted on our complaints within their mandate. We believe protecting the rights of children is a matter of national interest." Grate added, “May we also invite Atty. Capulong to file cases against DSWD, CHR, DOLE, and MTRCB, as well as UNICEF, CBCP, UP College of Mass Communication, Ateneo HRC, St. Scholastica’s College (Manila) Mass Communication Department, and other groups that have issued similar statements?" — ELR/VS/HS, GMA News