Rape joke by Bacolod broadcaster sparks outrage, suspension

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – What began as a crude on-air banter about wanting to rape a reporter and face the prospect of going to jail alongside an alleged child beater quickly spiraled into a firestorm in Bacolod City. His remarks outraged women’s groups, local officials, and his own colleagues, and led to his indefinite suspension.

Broadcast executive Jean Paul Generoso, head of the human resources office of K5 News FM Network, made the offensive remark during a live broadcast of the “11MBPS” program on Wednesday, May 20, while discussing the case of a man accused of giving his seven-year-old daughter a beating at the city’s public plaza.

The incident involving the father had earlier gone viral online after a netizen posted it on Facebook, prompting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya to summon and confront him. Gasataya asked local social workers to act on it.

The controversy involving Generoso erupted after a reporter, a woman, was reporting live from city hall on the incident, during which he made his crude joke on air – he said he had a desire to rape her even if that meant going to prison along with the allegedly abusive father.

On air, Generoso told the reporter, “Mayo guro ripon ta ka para makasulod ko prisuhan para upod kami to nga duwa para maguripat.”

(I think it’s better if I rape you so that I could also go to jail, join him, and I could pinch him.)

Generoso said the line at least twice.

His remarks quickly drew condemnation from various groups, especially women’s rights advocates.

Generoso has publicly apologized for his offensive remarks.

“I accept [the] criticism with genuine humility,” he said, admitting that what he said was inappropriate.

Describing his own remarks as “deeply insensitive, irresponsible, and entirely unacceptable,” Generoso apologized to women, survivors of abuse and sexual violence, public officials, and listeners offended by the comment.

Bacolod Councilor Celia Matea Flor on Thursday, May 21, said Generoso appeared “insincere” as “he skipped apologizing to the real victim of his sarcastic joke.”

Flor, chairperson of the city council’s committee on women, gender and family and children welfare, said Generoso’s act showed “a misguided act of a broadcaster.”

“Rape is not a joke,” she said. “This kind of behavior, especially from members of the media, has a serious impact on how society views violence against women.”

“When rape is turned into a joke, it further silences and intimidates victims, deterring them from speaking out about what happened to them,” said Flor who also heads the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) Foundation. 

The women’s rights group Gabriela also condemned Generoso’s remarks, labeling them gender-based harassment under the Safe Spaces Act.

An executive of K5 News FM Network said the company had placed Generoso under indefinite suspension pending an investigation.

“We’ve already asked our female reporter to submit an incident report, and also Generoso for his written explanation,” the executive, who requested anonymity, told Rappler. “From there, we will start the ball rolling. We will observe the basic protocols in probing our own people.”

Meanwhile, the Negros Press Club (NPC), of which both Generoso and the female reporter are members, reminded journalists to “always exercise prudence, uphold respect, and be responsible journalists at all times.” – Rappler.com