‘No person is walang kwenta’: Groups, friends defend Josh Aquino amid podcast controversy

MANILA, Philippines – Podcasts have given ordinary people a platform to speak their minds. Some give us a chance at self-reflection, while others offer comedic relief.

But what happens when the jokes being thrown around in the latter begin to draw more offense than laughter?

In a Machong Chismisan podcast episode published on October 5, Kris Aquino’s son Josh became the subject of mockery as the show’s host, Tito P, referred to him as “ walang kwenta (useless).”

While the controversial episode has already been taken down, the Machong Chismisan podcast was not spared from public scrutiny, with groups and newsmakers attesting that the hosts had crossed the line with their remarks.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag also confirmed to Boy Abunda in a text message on Thursday, October 15, that he has ordered the NBI’s cybercrime division and special action unit to probe the podcast’s hosts and file the necessary complaints.

The Machong Chismisan podcast’s contract has also been terminated by The Pod Network “effective immediately.”

Family friends come to Josh’s defense

Figures who know Josh personally were quick to come to his defense — with Abunda expressing outrage over the incident on an episode of Fast Talk With Boy Abunda . The talk show host said he was puzzled that a group of men who appeared to be intelligent and educated could make such cruel remarks about another young man with a disability.

Abunda recalled that when Josh’s mother, Kris Aquino, was actively seeking treatment in the US, it was his job to gather everyone each morning for a prayer.

“Hindi po walang silbi si Josh. Mali po ang inyong ginawa. Labag sa batas ng Diyos at sa batas ng tao ang inyong ginawa. Napakasakit. Napakasakit, hindi lamang para sa pamilya, pero para sa lahat ng mga pamilya, ng mga bata, ng mga magulang na may kapansanan, na may disability ang kanilang mga anak,” Abunda emphasized.

(Josh is not useless. What you did was wrong. What you did is against the teachings of God and the law. It hurts. It hurts, not just for Josh’s family, but for all the families, children, and parents of those with disabilities.)

Abunda recommended that Kris press charges against the podcast — citing RA 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which penalizes those who publicly ridicule persons with disabilities.

“Labag sa batas ang ginawa ng mga podcasters na ito. Congratulations, you got the attention of everybody, at hindi dito nagtatapos. Dapat ito’y pag-aralan, dapat tayo’y magreact. Dapat pag-usapan, para maenlighten ang maraming tao. I am sorry for what happened to Josh,” Abunda added.

(What these podcasters did is against the law. Congratulations, you got the attention of everybody, and it doesn’t end here. This should be studied, and we should react. It should be talked about, so we can enlighten even more people. I am sorry for what happened to Josh.)

Meanwhile, Mark Leviste, who was previously in a relationship with Kris, stepped in to publicly defend Josh.

“I love him like my own son, and my children love him like their own older brother. He is one of the kindest, sweetest, most prayerful, and loving people you will ever meet. Sinuman ang tunay na nakakakilala sa kanya ay mauunawaan kung bakit labis na nakasasakit sa aming mga nagmamahal sa kanya ang mga binitiwang salita tungkol sa kanya,”

(Those who truly know Josh understand why it hurts to hear these words be thrown against him.)

Leviste asked that the people behind Machong Chismisan take full responsibility for what transpired, personally apologize to Josh and his family, and ensure that the incident does not happen again.

“You may call yourselves comedians or podcasters, but freedom of expression does not exempt you from accountability! There’s a difference between making people laugh and turning someone into a laughingstock. When your foolish words and slapstick humor demean someone, especially because of his disability, you cross a line that should never be crossed!” Leviste wrote.

Designer Michael Leyva, a longtime friend of Kris, also came to Josh’s defense — personally vouching for Josh’s kindness.

“Making Kuya Josh the subject of your so-called ‘Machong Chismisan’ podcast and mocking his disability is not something that I or any of us should simply let slide,” he said in an Instagram story .

‘Blatant discrimination’

Even the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had to issue a warning for content creators to be careful about making derogatory statements towards individuals with mental disabilities not just as an act of compassion, but to uphold their human rights.

And for the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), it no longer becomes comedy when one’s dignity is involved, but instead, it is “blatant discrimination.”

“Creators bear a responsibility to foster respectful and inclusive digital spaces, ensuring that all content is approached with sensitivity and mindfulness. NCDA also calls on the public and social media users to refrain from sharing, reposting, and engaging with any material that demeans, mocks, or exploits vulnerable individuals,” the NCDA wrote.

In the same vein, the Council for the Welfare of Children reminded content creators and media practitioners of the influence they hold over shaping public opinion.

The Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines encouraged Machong Chismisan ’s hosts — and in effect, all content creators — to engage with individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and other disabilities for them to hear their stories and use their platforms “to build understanding rather than ridicule.”

“No person is walang kwenta (useless). Every person with autism, Down syndrome, or any disability has inherent dignity and worth. Using their condition as a punchline is not comedy. It is cruelty that hurts thousands of Filipino families who live this reality every day,” the group wrote in its statement.

The Autism Society of the Philippines also advised against patronizing content creators and podcasts “not capable of basic respect.”

“Freedom of expression must never come at the expense of the rights and humanity of persons with disabilities,” the group said.

– Rappler.com