MANILA, Philippines — A party-list group advocating for persons with disabilities (PWDs) made good on its promise to file a complaint against the hosts and producers of the recently canceled “Machong Chismisan” podcast over remarks that mocked TV host Kris Aquino’s son, Josh, who is on the autism spectrum.
On Monday, 1PWD party-list Rep. JD Castro filed before the National Bureau of Investigation a complaint-referral for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9442, which amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 7277), as well as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Named in the complaint were the five podcast hosts: Tito P or Tito Patrioto, Makoy Pare, who is also known as Showbiz Bro, Daniel Lawrence Vivar or LV, RJ Carbonell and John Paulo Mojica.
In an interview after the filing, Castro told reporters they also included the producers since they had allowed the Oct. 5 episode to air on social media.
READ: A case for all PWDs
“The only disability in the world actually is a bad attitude. So this should not be done by a normal person,” he said.
“We take this very seriously and we will not back down. We are not weak. We will show them that PWDs fight back,” Castro said.
According to him, their group also reached out to the Aquino family following the airing of the podcast.
“We respect that they released a statement that they will not pursue [a case] anymore. But as I said, we are not [taking a stand] on behalf of Josh Aquino but on behalf of the sector, as a community. What about the people without any means? Who will protect them?” he said.
Tougher sanctions
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, on the other hand, said he will file a bill to hold those who bully or mock vulnerable groups, including PWDs, the elderly and indigenous peoples (IPs), criminally liable with jail time.
Tulfo stressed the need for a more effective implementation of laws that protect PWDs, including RA 9442 that prohibits mocking or making slanderous statements against them.
“The recent controversy involving the Machong Chismisan podcast and its remarks about Josh Aquino is a reminder that discrimination against persons with disabilities remains a serious concern. I would like to emphasize that disability is not a joke or a punchline,” he said during a public hearing of the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development on Monday.
“A person’s disability must never be a source of ridicule, laughter, or a reason to diminish their worth and dignity. If a PWD from a prominent family can experience this kind of discrimination, what about our ordinary countrymen with disabilities who face discrimination every day?” he added.
“I will file a bill within the next few days to protect our senior citizens and indigenous peoples, our PWDs. And there is a punishment for this. If you are caught bullying—in words or in actions—PWDs, senior citizens, and IPs, you will be charged in court. You will be held criminally and it may not only be a penalty but also imprisonment to protect these vulnerable groups,” Tulfo said.
The five hosts of the podcast, which has since been canceled, have been ordered to appear before the NBI on Oct. 20 in connection with Tito P’s remark that Josh was “walang kwenta” (useless).
Although the episode was later deleted from the podcast’s social media page, clips were reposted by netizens, leading to public backlash. /cb