By CESAR JOLITO III

A local radio broadcaster’s remarks allegedly trivializing rape and violence against women went viral and sparked public backlash, drawing strong condemnation from women’s groups, press organizations, lawmakers, and a national government task force.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) issued a formal statement expressing “grave concern” over the remarks, calling them inappropriate and deeply disturbing.

PTFOMS Executive Director Jose Torres, Jr. said the comments trivialized rape and violence against women and have no place in responsible journalism.

While reaffirming that press freedom remains a cornerstone of democracy, PTFOMS emphasized that it must be exercised with accountability, professionalism and respect for human dignity.

The task force also acknowledged the broadcaster’s public apology but stressed that the incident should serve as a warning to all media practitioners that statements made on public platforms carry significant influence and consequences.

PTFOMS urged media organizations, broadcasters’ associations and regulatory bodies to strengthen ethical standards, gender sensitivity training, and accountability mechanisms within the industry.

Meanwhile, the Negros Press Club also condemned the incident, reiterating that such remarks have no place in journalism.

It emphasized that responsible broadcasting must always respect human dignity and warned that trivializing rape undermines survivors, erodes trust and contradicts the principles of ethical journalism.

The organization said it is coordinating with the concerned media outlet and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing professional standards among its members.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also condemned the incident, describing it as sexual harassment directed at a female reporter who was performing her duties.

NUJP noted that newsroom harassment often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation and called for stronger workplace protections, zero-tolerance policies, and safer environments for journalists.

Media organizations uniformly emphasized that rape and sexual violence must never be used as humor or casual language in any setting, especially in media platforms that shape public discourse.

They called for stricter newsroom policies, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and sustained gender sensitivity training to prevent similar incidents.

‘Harmful’

The Alliance of Socialist Feminists in Bacolod (SOCFEM Bacolod) earlier denounced the repeated on-air remark of a radio anchor’s “rape-on ta ka bala,” calling it inappropriate, harmful and indicative of the persistence of rape culture in public discourse.

The group stressed that media professionals carry heightened responsibility in shaping public perception and warned that casual or humorous framing of sexual violence contributes to the normalization of abuse.

SOCFEM also cited Republic Act No. 11313 (Safe Spaces Act), underscoring that gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces and workplaces is punishable under law.

It called on the management of a radio station and media regulatory bodies to act on the matter and urged the broadcaster, identified in public statements as Jean Paul Generoso, to issue a sincere public apology.

Meanwhile, the Gabriela Women’s Party strongly criticized the broadcast, saying the remarks — made during a discussion involving abuse cases — were unacceptable and contribute to the normalization of violence against women.

Apology

Generoso has issued a public apology, acknowledging that the remark was inappropriate and expressing regret for the harm caused to survivors of sexual violence and the listening public.

He also said he accepts responsibility and intends to improve his professional conduct.

Meanwhile, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod issued a resolution strongly condemning any statement that normalizes or trivializes rape and gender-based violence.

Councilor Celia Matea Flor stressed that public communication — especially in the media — must remain respectful, responsible and aligned with laws protecting women and children.

The resolution reaffirmed the city’s enforcement of the Safe Spaces Act and its local anti-bastos ordinance, which penalizes verbal abuse and degrading remarks in public spaces./CJ, WDJ