Metro Manila, Philippines – A party-list group is looking at a controversial podcast episode as a landmark case in protecting the rights of persons with disability, in filing a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The “Machong Chismisan” podcast drew flack for a remark against Josh Aquino, son of actress Kris Aquino and on the autism spectrum. The party-list invoked possible violations to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
“Sana po ay ito na po ‘yung ating maging landmark case at sana po ay hindi na mapasunuran pa ng kahit sinong Pilipino na gawin ito sa sektor,” 1PWD first nominee John Darnell “JD” Castro said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 20, alongside NBI Director Melvin Matibag.
[Translation: I hope this becomes our landmark case, and I hope no other Filipino will follow by doing the same thing to the sector.]
He said the complaint goes beyond the Aquino family, as it was for the entire PWD sector “na hindi dapat inaalipusta, tinitingnang mababa, at kinakawawa [that should not be insulted, looked down upon, or mistreated].”
Of the five “Machong Chismisan” hosts issued a subpoena to appear at the NBI on Tuesday, only one faced the agency.
Meanwhile, Matibag said “Tito P,” who allegedly made the “walang kwenta” [good for nothing] comment, submitted a letter through his lawyer stating that he has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, but no medical certificate was attached to support the claim.
He said the investigation is determining appropriate charges and enough evidence, adding that the bureau could also look into others involved in producing the podcast given the gap between production and the airing of the now-deleted episode.
