21/05/2026
[TW: Mentions of R**e]
R**E IS NOT A JOKE.
The BulSU Student Government Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee strongly condemns the disturbing remarks reportedly made by a broadcaster of K5 News FM Bacolod 101.5, where r**e was repeatedly used as a โjokeโ toward a fellow woman reporter during a discussion on violence against women and children.
There is no humor in r**e. It is a violent crime, a grave violation of human rights, and a painful reality experienced by many women, children, and marginalized individuals. Statements that dismiss sexual violence contribute to a culture that normalizes abuse, silences survivors, and discourages victims from seeking justice.
What makes this incident even more alarming is that it happened in the middle of reporting a sensitive issue involving abuse. Media platforms should uphold responsibility, respect, and gender sensitivityโnot reinforce harmful attitudes that perpetuate violence and misogyny. The visible discomfort of the woman reporter further emphasizes that repeated sexual remarks and unwanted comments are forms of gender-based sexual harassment prohibited under Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law).
As cases of violence against women and children continue to rise in the Philippines, we call on media institutions, public figures, and society as a whole to stand firmly against all forms of r**e culture, sexism, and harassment. Accountability must be upheld, and spaces from online, on-air, and offline must remain safe and respectful for everyone.
R**e is never a joke.
Silence enables violence.
Accountability protects people.