MANILA — Several Philippine senators on Thursday, October 15, strongly denounced online content creators who mock individuals with disabilities, following widespread public outrage over offensive remarks made against Josh, the eldest son of television personality Kris Aquino, in an episode of the now-canceled podcast “Machong Chismisan.”
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senator Risa Hontiveros, and former Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel voiced unified condemnation against the podcast hosts’ behavior, stressing that humiliating vulnerable individuals has no place in society or digital spaces.
Hontiveros emphasized that mocking people based on their health conditions is unacceptable and that every citizen deserves basic dignity.
“It is never acceptable to mock, belittle, or demean persons with disability. They are not a punchline, and their lives should not be fodder for ridicule, whether on air, online, or in private conversation,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Highlighting existing legal frameworks, Hontiveros noted that multiple measures and proposals—including the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act which she champions—are designed to shield citizens from discrimination.
“Our laws clearly uphold the principle that every Filipino with a disability possesses dignity. Much like the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act that I am advocating for, there are already numerous laws and proposals in place that prohibit any form of discrimination,” she stated.
She further urged online personalities to use their influence responsibly:
“To everyone, especially those with platforms: remember that the true measure of our character is how we treat the most vulnerable members of our society. They are the ones we should protect, not mock,” she added.
Villanueva similarly expressed deep frustration over the incident, criticizing the mindset of turning a person’s developmental condition into a source of entertainment.
“It’s infuriating and rude! There is no room for this kind of behavior in our society and in the digital space,” Villanueva said.
He questioned the maturity and character behind such actions, adding that targeting defenseless individuals does not reflect true masculinity.
“Who in their right mind would make a mockery of a person on the spectrum? What kind of entertainment is derived from humiliating someone who cannot defend themselves? Let me remind the hosts: the things you are saying do not make you any more ‘macho’,” he noted.
According to Villanueva, the controversy highlights a deeper societal issue regarding how disability is treated despite long-standing inclusion campaigns.
“The issue is not just about Josh, whom we know is loved by his family and the people close to him, but also about how some people still treat disability as a punchline. We have spent years fighting for a country where persons with disabilities are included in our classrooms, workplaces, and public life. A nation does not get to call itself inclusive while its loudest voices treat disability as entertainment,” Villanueva stressed.
He also challenged media networks and digital creators to implement stricter oversight mechanisms.
“When you mock someone’s disability, thousands of listeners learn to do the same. To production companies and networks: simply deleting an episode after a controversy erupts is not enough. You must have clear standards in place before any content is aired,” he said, adding that families and caregivers should not face public mockery for online views.
“Parents, siblings, and caregivers spend years building a world that is kinder to their loved ones; they should not have to watch that world be ridiculed for the sake of views. We stand with them—and with the many families whose own stories rarely make the news,” he reiterated.
Echoing his colleagues, Pimentel condemned the hosts’ statements and asserted that cruelty disguised as comedy remains unacceptable.
“Calling someone ‘walang kuwenta’ and making fun of his condition is not comedy. It is cruelty. No person, especially someone with a disability, deserves to be treated that way,” he said.
He reminded the public that a disability does not diminish an individual’s intrinsic worth.
“Hindi dahil may kapansanan ang isang tao ay wala na siyang halaga. Every person has value. Every person deserves respect,” Pimentel stressed, pointing out that laws like Republic Act No. 9442 explicitly penalize public ridicule and vilification of persons with disabilities.
“There is a place for humor, but a person’s disability should never be made the subject of a joke,” he concluded.
While noting that the podcast had issued a public apology, Pimentel maintained that real accountability requires genuine changes in conduct, reinforcing the collective call for greater digital ethics and respect for marginalized sectors.