News anchor Karen Davila called out the hosts of “Machong Chismisan” after guest comedian Jeps Gallon made a disturbing remark about molesting children during a discussion on whether fame could make someone “uncancellable.”
Fellow guest RJ Carbonell suggested that a celebrity’s fame could protect them from public backlash, saying,
“Para sa akin, may level of fame na nagiging uncancellable ka.”
Gallon replied, “Oo, puwede ka na manghipo ng bata. Mali ba?”
The exchange was met with laughter from the hosts.
Reacting to the clip, Davila wrote,
“My gosh – they are SICK.”
Watch the clip here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1426517355552504
The Oct. 5 episode had already faced backlash after co-host Tito P referred to Josh Aquino, Kris Aquino’s eldest son who is on the autism spectrum, as “walang kuwenta.” The episode featured hosts Makoy Pare, Tito P (Philipp Joshua Dizon De Leon) and Lawrence Vivar, along with guests RJ Carbonell, Juan Paulo Mojica (JPM) and Jeps Gallon.
Davila had earlier condemned the podcast’s remarks about Josh in an Oct. 15 post on X, calling the exchange ableist.
“Shame on all of you. You make me sick to my stomach,” she wrote, urging the hosts to apologize to parents and neurodivergent children.
She also shared a photo with Josh and her son David, who is also on the autism spectrum.
“My son David & Josh are almost the same age,” she wrote.
Davila said they had known each other as children and recalled recently seeing Josh, whom she described as kind and sweet.
The National Bureau of Investigation has subpoenaed five individuals connected to the podcast to appear before its Cybercrime Division on Oct. 20 over the remarks about Josh. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said they could face charges under laws protecting persons with disabilities and for cyberlibel.
On Oct. 19, 1PWD Party-list Rep. JD Castro filed a complaint-referral with the NBI against the podcast’s hosts and producers over the same remarks. Castro questioned why the production team allowed the episode to be released.
The Pod Network has since terminated its contract with Machong Chismisan as more clips containing offensive remarks and ill-informed takes continue to resurface.
