NBI to subpoena ‘Machong Chismisan’ hosts over insensitive remarks

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will subpoena Machong Chismisan podcast hosts over their insensitive remarks directed at Kris Aquino’s firstborn son, Josh, who is on the autism spectrum.

In a Viber message on Thursday, Matibag said the bureau will conduct an investigation into the sensitive remarks against Josh. 

READ: Podcast hosts mock Kris Aquino’s son Josh

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“We will subpoena the individuals concerned,” Matibag said.

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1PWD party-list Rep. JD Castro earlier said his group will file a complaint before the NBI on Monday, Oct. 19, against the podcast hosts over their insensitive remarks.

The five male hosts of the podcast faced backlash after making comments about Josh in their episode aired last Oct. 5, with one of them calling him “walang kwenta” (useless).

The episode has been deleted from their social media page, but clips of it were already reposted by various netizens on social media.

The hosts, on their social media page, later this Thursday issued a public apology, saying that “we take full accountability for our actions and behavior during the episode.”

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“We acknowledge that our conduct was inexcusable, deeply insensitive, and hurtful. We recognize the impact of our actions, and we do not wish to make excuses for the harm we have caused,” the hosts said.

Under Republic Act No. 9442, which amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (Republic Act No. 7277), mockery, discrimination and defamation against persons with disability is punishable by law.

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Those who would be found guilty of this violation may face fines amounting to P50,000 to P100,000 and imprisonment of six months to two years for a first offense. /mr