Commission on Human Rights' Press Statement Regarding March 12 Episode of "Willing Willie"

Still on the March 12 episode of TV5's Willing Willie where a six-year-old boy named Jan-Jan was seen doing a "macho dancing routine," the Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Loretta Rosales has already expressed its concerns through a press statement dated March 29, 2011. It reads:

"The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the Willing Willie episode aired on March 12, 2011 wherein a 6-year old boy named Jan-Jan Suan performed a 'macho-dancing routine.' This is an exploitation of the child's innocence and demeans his inherent dignity for entertainment's sake.

"The multiple pressures exerted on Jan-Jan by the TV program's host, audience, and his parents to perform a humiliating act in exchange for ten thousand pesos constitute child abuse as defined in Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610 or 'Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. It provides that:

"Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development. -

"(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period.

"The willingness of Jan-Jan's parents to expose him, both in private and public, to a humiliating and degrading situation is child abuse. The Commission is also deeply alarmed that the abuse suffered by Jan-Jan was seen on national television and that its videos are being repeatedly watched by the public, including children.

"The Commission will investigate this incident in order to identify the person/s liable and to recommend proper legal actions against them. The Commission will also issue recommendations to relevant private, especially TV5, and public agencies in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The Commission also calls upon the relevant government offices such as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to undertake the appropriate actions to address this incidence of child abuse and to provide the necessary relief to Jan-Jan."