The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has released an official statement refuting allegations that it summoned a well-known television personality, widely believed to be Vice Ganda, concerning their new advertisement featuring fried chicken.

These claims gained traction on social media after a satirical account posted about the MTRCB’s purported disapproval of Vice Ganda’s method of consuming fried chicken in the fast-food commercial.

Despite the satirical nature of the post shared by Anima Cristi Fermin on Twitter, the MTRCB responded in earnest.

The chairperson of the agency, Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, characterized these allegations as “malicious and false,” clarifying that they had not issued any summons to the “particular celebrity who recently appeared in a TV commercial for a fast-food chain.”

The MTRCB underscored the significance of verifying news and scrutinizing information sources before sharing content in today’s digital era, advocating for media literacy and critical thinking.

Furthermore, the agency voiced its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCOO) endeavors to combat disinformation and misinformation, with an overarching goal of promoting truth over fake news.

This official statement from the government body follows the resumption of the Kapamilya noontime show ‘It’s Showtime’ after a 12-day suspension imposed by the MTRCB earlier this year.

Numerous netizens have raised questions about the MTRCB’s decisions, particularly concerning complaints about offensive language and behavior on live television in various shows.

At the time of this writing, Vice Ganda has not issued a statement in response to these recent claims.