Senator Gringo now seeking Wowowee investigation too

It's been more than a week eversince Juicebee posted the controversial Wowowee video we found at Youtube as did many sites and now the trouble for Wowowee and ABS-CBN is just starting.

Senator Gringo Honasan has now joined the calls for a senate probe. He says he sees the controversy "not as a trivial affair" but a “grave matter."

"We are definitely endorsing the Senate investigation. This is all about fairness, and ensuring the probity of all popular contests,whether on-screen or off-screen, in order to safeguard consumers," Honasan said in a statement released to media on Monday.

"The products in question here are all game shows. The consumers we are trying to protect here are all TV viewers, not just the game contestants," he added.

“In fact, lives have been lost as a consequence of the frenzy created by one of these shows." Honasan was referring to the Feb. 4, 2006 stampede at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The mad rush of aspiring "Wowowee" contestants and fans killed 71 people and injured more than 200.

Sen. Mar Roxas earlier vowed to file a resolution that would enable the investigation of the supposed manipulation of the P2- million "Wilyonaryo" game segment of the "Wowoweee" noontime show of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

"We cannot just allow this controversy to blow over. We have to ascertain whether existing laws are sufficient to protect consumers, with respect to ensuring the integrity of all game shows," Honasan said.

He said existing trade laws protect consumers against potential cheating in all forms of promotional contests.

"This is why regulators, in this case officials of the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), are supposed to supervise all contests, from simple raffles to game shows," Honasan said.
SOURCE:
FIDEL JIMENEZ
GMANews.TV