1PWD party-list seeks NBI help vs Machong Chismisan hosts, producers

MANILA, Philippines — The 1PWD Party-list on Monday filed a complaint-referral before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the hosts and producers of the Machong Chismisan podcast following insensitive remarks directed at Kris Aquino’s firstborn son, Josh, who is on the autism spectrum.

1PWD Rep. JD Castro arrived at the NBI’s headquarters in Pasay City around 9:30 a.m. to file the complaint-referral.

In an interview with reporters upon his arrival, Castro said the complaint-referral involves an alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9442, which amends the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (Republic Act No. 7277).

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Under the Republic Act No. 9442, 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.

“The only disability in the world actually is a bad attitude. So hindi dapat ginagawa yan ng isang normal na tao,” Castro said.

(The only disability in the world actually is a bad attitude. So a normal person shouldn’t do that.)

READ: ‘Macho’ hosts turn meek, apologize for mocking Kris Aquino son Josh

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NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said the bureau has issued subpoenas against the five hosts, requiring them to appear before the bureau on Oct. 20.

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

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READ: NBI summons ‘Machong Chismisan’ hosts over derogatory remark

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. /jpv