• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod unanimously approved May 20 the resolution of Councilor Celia Matea Flor “strongly condemning any statement and/or public expression that normalizes, justifies, or makes light of rape, violence against women, and other forms of gender-based sexual harassment”.
Flor, chairperson of the SP Committee on Women, Gender, Family and Child Care Development, took issue with the on-air statement “i-rape ta ka para mapriso ko”, of a radio announcer while a female colleague was reporting about a six-year-old girl seen in a viral video being physically abused by her father near the public plaza.
“Ang pahayag nga ‘i-rape ta ka para mapriso ko”, wala sang lugar sa responsable nga diskurso publiko, labi na gid sa media kag radyo nga may dako nga impluwensya sa pumuluyo,” she stressed during the SP session, adding the city already approved the “Bawal Bastos Ordinance”, which enforces at the local level Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act of 2019.
“Ang rape kag bisan ano nga porma sang pagpang-abuso, indi dapat himuon nga joke — sa radyo man ukon sa bisan diin,” Flor said. “Ginapanawagan naton ang tanan, labi na ang mga miyembro sang media, nga mangin responsable sa ila mga pahayag kag magbulig sa pagpatigayon sang isa ka komunidad nga nagapangapin kag nagatahod sa kababayen-an kag kabataan.”
Jean Paul Generoso, host of 11MBPS of K5 News FM Bacolod, in a statement posted at 6:30 p.m. on the station’s FB page, apologized “for the inappropriate statement made during (the) live broadcast”.
“During our discussion regarding the reported incident of a father physically abusing his minor daughter in public, I carelessly made an on-air joke referencing “rape.” While it was never my intention to mock or trivialize the suffering of victims, I now fully realize that using this term in a humorous context, especially on live radio, was deeply insensitive, irresponsible, and entirely unacceptable,” he added. “I take full responsibility for my words. There is no excuse for this severe lapse in judgment.”
The Negros Press Club, in an official statement posted at 8:30 p.m., also said “it unequivocally condemns all acts of abuse, disrespect, and irresponsible broadcasting. Such conduct has no place in our profession or in our organization.”
“We join the community in stating with conviction: rape is not a joke. It is a crime, and treating it as humor undermines survivors, erodes public trust, and violates the very purpose of the press,” it stressed, and reminded all its members “of their duty to exercise prudence, uphold respect, and practice responsible journalism at all times. This duty does not, and will never, diminish the rights, dignity, and safety of women.” | CGC
