BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Women’s groups, journalists and advocates condemned K5 News FM Bacolod anchor Jean Paul Generoso after he joked on air about raping a fellow reporter during a report about a father physically abusing his minor daughter in public.
During the “11MBPS” broadcast of K5 News FM Bacolod, Generoso repeatedly asked a female reporter if he could rape her so he could also be jailed, after she reported that the suspect in the abuse case had been detained.
“Rape is never a joke,” the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said, calling the incident sexual harassment and urging newsrooms to adopt zero-tolerance policies.
Gabriela Women’s Party said the remarks normalized rape and violated Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act. The group said the comment was especially disturbing because it was made while discussing abuse against women and children.
“Amid the current times of worsening cases of violence against women and children, everyone’s stance must be clear: rape is not a joke. It should not be made into a joke, content, or a gag for attention,” the women’s partylist added.
Veteran journalist Inday Espina Varona said the remarks were not only a breach of media ethics but also a violation of safe spaces protections. Meanwhile, journalist Jacque Manabat called the incident “institutional hypocrisy,” saying sexual violence should never be used as a punchline.
The Alliance of Socialist Feminists in Bacolod (SOCFEM Bacolod) also condemned the anchor’s remarks, saying the issue “goes beyond an individual reaction” and warns that such statements contribute to the normalization of violence against women and rape culture. It called on K5 News FM 101.5 Bacolod, the Negros Press Club and other media regulatory bodies in Negros to ensure accountability and proper action.
Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor also condemned the remarks, citing the city’s Bawal Bastos Ordinance, which implements the Safe Spaces Act locally.
“This ordinance shows that harsh words, vulgarity, and statements that undermine human dignity add to a culture of indifference and abuse,” Councilor Flor said.
Generoso apologized, saying he made an “inappropriate statement” during the live broadcast and acknowledged that referencing rape in a joke was “deeply insensitive, irresponsible, and entirely unacceptable.”
However, the NUJP said the apology failed to mention how the female reporter was harassed. The group said sexual harassment in media remains underreported because victims fear losing work, not being believed, stigma or victim-blaming.
Both women and media advocates called for accountability and stronger workplace mechanisms to protect women journalists and media workers.
Paghimutad 