BACOLOD CITY – A radio broadcaster  here is facing backlash from netizens and members of the media for rape-related remarks during a live radio program on Wednesday, May 20.

Radio anchor Jean Paul Generoso was speaking with a female field reporter who was covering a child abuse case.

As the reporter explained that the suspect was already under police custody, Generoso interrupted and joked that he also wanted to go to jail.

He repeatedly asked the reporter on air if he could rape her so he could also be imprisoned.

The female reporter laughed during the exchange and suggested that he could simply visit the suspect at the police station.

Despite this, Generoso continued making remarks about wanting to be jailed.

The incident sparked outrage on social media. Many described the comments as inappropriate and offensive.

Generoso, an anchorman of K5 News FM Bacolod program 11MBPS, apologized and admitted that his remarks were wrong.

“While it was never my intention to mock or trivialize the suffering of victims, I now fully realize that using this term in a humorous context, especially on live radio, was deeply insensitive, irresponsible, and entirely unacceptable,” he stated on Facebook.

“I take full responsibility for my words. There is no excuse for this severe lapse in judgment,” he said.

He thanked members of the community who called out his mistake and held him accountable. Generoso said that he accepts this criticism with genuine humility and he is fully committed to learning from this error, undergoing necessary self-reflection, and ensuring to do better moving forward.

Station manager Rods Palma said that an internal investigation is now underway and the matter has been raised to management for appropriate action.

Palma said that Generoso, who also heads the Human Resource Department, was suspended. The station manager said management does not tolerate any offense committed by their personnel.

Councilor Celia Flor, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Women, Gender, Family, and Child care, denounced statements that normalize rape and gender-based harassment.

Flor stressed that rape and abuse should never be treated as jokes and cited the city’s “Bawal Bastos Ordinance” and the Safe Spaces Act.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) expressed grave concern over Generoso’s inappropriate and deeply disturbing remarks.

The task force noted that his remarks involved jokes and comments that trivialized rape and violence against women, adding that such statements undermine ongoing efforts to protect women, promote gender sensitivity, and create safe spaces in media and society.

It stressed that media platforms must never be used to normalize violence, demean victims, or perpetuate harmful narratives disguised as humor, adding that comments that make light of rape and sexual violence are unacceptable and have no place in responsible journalism and broadcasting.

They urged media organizations, broadcasters’ associations, and regulatory agencies to continue strengthening ethical standards, gender sensitivity training, and accountability mechanisms within the industry, stressing that responsible journalism is crucial in maintaining public trust and preserving the integrity of the profession.

The PTFOMS acknowledged the public apology issued by the broadcaster and said the incident serves as a serious reminder to all media practitioners, broadcasters, and content creators that words spoken over public platforms have significant impact and influence.

Also criticizing Generoso were the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Negros Press Club Inc. (NPC).

“Such conduct has no place in our profession or in our organization,” said the NPC which reminded all members of their duty to exercise prudence, uphold respect, and practice responsible journalism at all times.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Negros Occidental Chapter (KBP-NOC) urged all broadcasters, radio hosts, commentators, disc jockeys, and media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, decency, and responsibility on air.

The KBP-Negros Occidental Chapter condemned the dishonorable act committed by Generoso and said they do not tolerate such action to perpetuate on air.

“Let us use our voices not to demean or desensitize, but to educate, uplift, and foster a culture that respects human dignity and protects the vulnerable. There is no place for rape jokes on Philippine airwaves.”

The Iloilo Media-Citizen Council condemned Generoso’s on-air conduct. “They were harassment, broadcast live, against a colleague who was doing her job.”

It asked newsrooms of Iloilo and Visayas to adopt a written sexual harassment policy and guarantee that no one who reports harassment loses shifts, assignments, or standing and make gender-sensitivity training a condition of on-air work.