The foundations of Philippine showbiz are shaking. What began as a startling revelation by former host Anjo Yllana has now snowballed into an avalanche of controversy, threatening to redefine the legacy of the industry’s most enduring institutions. The latest “bombshell” comes from a man synonymous with Eat Bulaga for decades: comedy icon Jimmy Santos. Breaking a long and conspicuous silence, Santos has reportedly stepped forward, corroborating Yllana’s claims and adding his own painful testimony of alleged betrayal, mistreatment, and a toxic backstage culture allegedly fostered by the show’s pillars: Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon.

The controversy ignited when Anjo Yllana recently “shook” the industry with his own explosive statements. According to insiders, Yllana’s act of speaking out served as a signal, a “green light” for other former hosts and talents who had allegedly long wanted to voice their grievances. For years, whispers of “unpleasant treatment,” “belittling,” and a “misuse of power” within the program were confined to gossip columns and blind items. Many allegedly chose to remain silent, fearing the immense influence of TVJ and the potential loss of their careers.

Now, Yllana’s bravery has, as one source put it, “opened the floodgates.” And from this flood has emerged Jimmy Santos, a face beloved by millions, who has decided his story will no longer be kept in the shadows.

Santos’s revelations paint a grim picture, one that stands in stark contrast to the joy and laughter Eat Bulaga brought to Filipino homes. He claims that the “blemishes” within the show have existed for a long time, but he and others chose to ignore them, partly out of respect and partly out of a tangible fear of unemployment. But as time went on, the situation behind the camera allegedly became “heavier.” He described a world unseen by the adoring public, a world where the on-screen camaraderie was just a performance.

In one of the most chilling allegations, Santos reportedly revealed that he used to warn younger comedians and performers to “be careful” in their interactions backstage. He implied that the trio’s affable public persona was a mask. The rumor, which Santos now seems to confirm, was that “as kind as they were on camera, that’s how heavy their attitude was when the cameras were off.”

For Santos, the issue became deeply personal. He alleges that after being “used” by the program for various projects and segments, he was unceremoniously “removed like nothing.” He claims there was no explanation, no gratitude—just a cold, silent push out the door. For a man who had dedicated almost his entire professional life to the program, he described it as a “heavy slap.”

“It’s incredibly painful to think,” Santos allegedly expressed, “that the people you considered friends, your family, are capable of turning their backs on you as if you were worthless.”

This sense of personal betrayal is the running theme of his testimony. As Yllana’s statements continue to circulate, the TVJ camp has reportedly advised its members to remain silent, hoping the issue will die down. This strategy, however, appears to be backfiring. The silence is being interpreted by many online as a tacit admission, fueling the belief that there might be truth to the mounting accusations.

On social media, the public is acting as judge and jury. Many netizens claim the trio’s “bossing” attitude was always “obvious,” even on screen. Old clips are being resurfaced and re-examined, particularly instances where Joey de Leon allegedly “humiliated” co-hosts or staff, passing it off as a “joke.” What was once dismissed as edgy humor is now being seen through a new, more sinister lens, with many commenting that it was “painful and not funny at all.”

These online recollections are now being bolstered by testimonies. Beyond simple “belittling,” there are emerging whispers of “public humiliation” and even “physical embarrassment” of staff and performers. These stories allegedly never made it to the media because of the trio’s tight control over their public image.

Now, Jimmy Santos has given a name and a face to these allegations. “I was also one of the victims,” he reportedly declared, the pain evident in his voice. “You had to follow everything they wanted. They ganged up on me. They belittled my character. Every day, they did something to make me feel bad.”

For Santos, this was never just about a job. It became an issue of “dignity and respect,” two things he claims he and others were denied for a very long time.

In his emotional statement, Santos further detailed the depth of the “betrayal.” After their long association, he never imagined their relationship would end in such a painful and heavy-handed way. He considered them family. He attributes the alleged change in their behavior to the corrupting force of their immense success. “Influence, power, and money,” he stated, “can change a person. And now I see how it changed a bond I thought was genuine and lifelong.”

The revelations are also casting a new light on one of Eat Bulaga’s oldest and most persistent mysteries: the sudden and controversial departure of the SexBomb Dancers. At the absolute peak of their fame, the dancers vanished from the show, a move that baffled the public. According to Santos and other long-standing rumors, they too had their own “experiences and grievances” about what happened behind the camera. It is suggested that their exit was not a career move, but an escape from “unpleasant” and “unbearable” situations they could “no longer stomach.”

This connection suggests a potential pattern of behavior, transforming isolated complaints into a systemic issue. As more stories and testimonies bubble to the surface from people once part of the show, the public is left asking a critical question: With so many people speaking up, is it possible this is all fabricated? Or is it finally time to confront the dark issues that have been “whispered about for decades” but never given a platform?

The public remains intensely divided, but one thing is clear: this controversy is not over. In fact, it feels as though this is not the end, but rather “the beginning of a much bigger explosion.” The nation is watching, waiting for the next revelation, and hoping that in the end, the full truth—whatever its form—will finally come to light. Until a clear response comes from all parties involved, this issue will remain the white-hot center of discussion, and the legacy of an empire will continue to hang in the balance.