‘Rape is not a joke’: Bacolod radio anchor under fire for on-air remark

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

May 21, 2026 | 11:48am

Trigger warning: Mentions of rape

MANILA, Philippines — A women’s group, several media groups and personalities, and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) expressed frustration and concern after a Bacolod-based radio anchor made a rape joke to a female reporter during a live broadcast.

The remark was made by K5 News FM Bacolod 101.5 anchor Jean Paul Generoso on Wednesday, May 20, while hosting his program 11MBPS.

Generoso repeatedly asked the reporter if he could “rape” her so he could go to jail with the suspect in an abuse case involving a child and a woman in Bacolod City, which was the subject of the reporter’s story.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) released a statement on the same day condemning the incident, while also highlighting that many harassment cases in newsrooms remain underreported due to fear.

“We reiterate our call for newsrooms and workplaces to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment and to establish policies and mechanisms that help create safe spaces for journalists and media workers,” the statement read.

The PTFoMS also released a statement, expressing grave concern about what they call "deeply disturbing remarks" of the broadcaster.

Unethical

The inappropriate remark immediately caught the attention of media personalities, including veteran journalist Inday Espina Varona.

“Generoso’s remarks were not just a violation of media ethics. He also violated the Safe Spaces Act,” Varona said in a Facebook post.

Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, penalizes acts of gender-based sexual harassment in workplaces and public spaces. Generoso’s remark is considered illegal under Article 4, Section 16 of the law.

Multi-platform journalist Jacque Manabat also called Generoso’s remarks “institutional hypocrisy.”

“Rape is neither a rhetorical tool nor a punchline. When a media professional reduces sexual violence to a casual talking point, they cease to be an observer of society and become complicit in its degradation,” she also said on Facebook.

No joke

The Gabriela Women’s Party also called for accountability on the matter, stating that sexual comments like Generoso’s joke constitute a form of gender-based sexual harassment punishable under Republic Act No. 11313 or the Bawal Bastos Law.

“This type of behavior, especially from those in the media, has a serious impact on how society views violence against women. When rape is turned into a joke, it further silences and discourages victims from speaking up and filing complaints,” the group said.

Bacolod City Councilor Celia Dolor, who also serves as Chair of the Committee on Women, Gender, Family and Childcare, also commented on the matter.

“The statement ‘I’ll rape you so I’ll be in jail’ has no place in responsible public discourse, especially in media and radio that has a big influence on residents,” Dolor said in a Facebook post.

Meanwhile, the Negros Press Club said in a statement that they will coordinate with K5 News FM Bacolod regarding the incident.

“The Negros Press Club Inc. will remain in coordination with the company concerned regarding this matter, and will continue to uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability among its members,” the statement read.

They also reminded their members to practice responsible journalism. “This duty does not, and will never, diminish the rights, dignity, and safety of women,” they added.

Generoso already issued an apology through the Facebook page of K5 News FM Bacolod 101.5, although it did not mention the alleged harassment or outline concrete steps to address the issue.