NEWSFLASH

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ZSA ZSA SITCOM KIDS IN TROUBLE WITH LABOR DEPT

Manila, Nov. 6, 1998 - Three child stars of the TV sitcom HIWALAY KUNG HIWALAY DAW starring Zsa Zsa Padilla and Christopher de Leon will most probably have to be "written out" of the next episodes of the weekly GMA-7 show. In a worst-case scenario, the program itself could be written out of the station's programming.

These bleak prospects surfaced after the Department of Labor and Employment refused to issue work permits for minors (WPM) for Katrina and Bianca Aquila and John Richard Trinidad, the young performers of the show.

DOLE-National Capital Region Director Maximo Lim said that the producer of "Hiwalay..." failed to complete the requirements for the issuance of WPM for the child stars concerned. The show's producer failed to submit a certified true copy of the minors' birth certificates and notarized employment contracts, among other documents.

The Labor Department claimed that "Hiwalay's" producer only applied for WPM only after the sitcom starring Christopher de Leon and Zsa Zsa Padilla had premièred on television when they should have done so before the show went on the air.

"Firms employing children are required to apply for WPM with the DOLE in accordance with Republic Act No. 7658 which allows the employment of children in cinema, theater, radio, or television only if all the requirements are strictly met and complied with," Lim said.

He warned movie, television and advertising companies that their licenses would be revoked if they fail to comply with all the requirements for employing of child workers.