(SPOT.ph) For a show about making your mornings a good one, this news segment from the February 19 episode of Umagang Kay Ganda did quite the opposite. While reporting about a 19-year-old girl getting gang-raped after meeting up with someone she had been chatting with online, host Anthony Taberna commented about how it was the girl's fault for putting herself in a position to get raped.
We deserve better than statements that normalize the boys-will-be-boys mindset. Rape doesn't happen because victims put themselves in vulnerable situations, rape happens because rapists rape. pic.twitter.com/sMU03j7Dbl
— Juan Miguel Severo (@TheRainBro) February 19, 2018
"Pambihira naman, 'o," he starts. "Ito po'y hindi first time na nangyari, ano. Napakadami nang pagkakataon na [nangyari] 'yang eyeball-eyeball na 'yan. At ang mas delikado, nakipag-eyeball ka na nga, nakipag-inuman ka pa. 'Yon ang problema, 'yon ang mabigat sa lahat," he says. "Lalo na't puro lalaki ang ka-inuman mo."
Co-host Jeff Canoy, meanwhile, defended the girl. "Madalas usually pinapaalalahanan 'yong mga babae na huwag sumama, huwag uminom, pero dapat 'yong blame talaga is doon sa mga lalaki. Dapat ang paalala sa kanila is huwag kayong mang-rape, 'di ba? 'Pag sinabi ng babae na huwag, [eh 'di] huwag, 'di ba?"
Then Taberna butts in, saying, "Hindi, sa totoo lang, pagka... madali sabihin 'yong sa lalaki. Pero 'pag ipinain na—pasensya na doon sa biktima 'yon dapat mabigyan ng katarungan—pero ito, para sa future na pangyayari. Kapag ikaw ay babae, huwag kang papasok sa lungga ng mga tulisan."
We deserve better than statements that normalize the boys-will-be-boys mindset. Rape doesn't happen because victims put themselves in vulnerable situations, rape happens because rapists rape. pic.twitter.com/sMU03j7Dbl
— Juan Miguel Severo (@TheRainBro) February 19, 2018
Taberna's remarks on air didn't go unnoticed. Internet users on social media soon picked up on his comments and called for an apology from Umagang Kay Ganda, as well as his resignation as a host of the show.
Reminder para kay Anthony Taberna!???? pic.twitter.com/ib7oRzjTL0
— EliSi (@EliZi24) February 19, 2018
Sorry but u should remove Anthony taberna on your morning show, I used to watch pero grabe ang mga side comments nia, nagmumukha na pong palengke ang news plus he’s very rude lalo na sa mga interviewees nia. bakya ang show unlike nung cna Julius at tintin pa
— $$$$$ (@anongpakimo2806) February 20, 2018
If they insist on retaining Taberna perhaps they should rename the show to, "Balahura Tuwing Umaga with Anthony Taberna." Yun Lang yun.
— Gina A. Policarpio (@gapolicarpio) February 20, 2018
'Boys being boys' is not an excuse to rape. Anthony Taberna's comments that victim blame rape victims are one of the reasons why rape culture is prevalent, now more than ever. His sexist remarks/comments on his female co-anchors are also wrong. As a viewer, he turns me off.
— Ronel Maaño (@ronelmaano13) February 20, 2018
hello @ukgdos; is there a way para matanggal na si anthony taberna sa programa nyo? napakainappropriate na umagang kay ganda ng title ng show tapos may bastos kayong host. hahaha nakakawalang ganda sa umaga e. https://t.co/3fn7yHalAd
— ?eduardo (@Empoypoy) February 19, 2018
Umagang Kay Ganda has since issued a statement saying that they have brought up the issues with Taberna.
Thank you for your feedback. Umagang Kay Ganda values comments from its viewers and we have called the attention of Anthony Taberna on the concern you have raised. Rest assured, we are addressing this matter.
— Umagang Kay Ganda (@ukgdos) February 20, 2018
Update as of February 26, 2018:
Taberna has since apologized to those who were offended by his comments during the Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG) episode on February 21, two days after he made the remarks. "Akin pong sinamantala ang pagkakataon na magpaalala sa mga kababaihan na mag-ingat na mapunta sa kaparehong sitwasyon," he starts. He mentions that he's the father to two daughters and says, "Batid ko na masama ang ating mundo—at nandiyan lang po ang mga kriminal at utak-kriminal [na] naghihintay lang po ng kanilang mabibiktima."
He also brings up previous instances wherein he condemned rapists, saying, "Bago po ang news report [nung] Lunes, lagi ko pong binabanggit dito sa UKG na walang puwang na mabuhay sa lipunan natin ang rapist." He continues, "Kailanman po ay hindi ko kakampihan ang mga demonyong ito. Ang paninindigan kong ito'y batid ng mga araw-araw na sumusubaybay sa UKG. Subalit, alam ko rin na hindi nagustuhang ang aking komento at ang aking paalala ay napalagay na paninisi sa biktima. Hindi po iyon ang aking intensyon."
He concludes, "Nais ko rin pong sabihin na hindi ko po sinisisi ang biktima sa nangyari. Dapat pong panagutin sa batas ang mga kriminal. Gaya nga po ng aking nabanggit sa naturang segment, dapat pong mabigyan ng hustisya ang sinapit po ng biktima. Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa mga nasaktan sa aking komento at mas magiging maingat po ako sa susunod na pagkakataon."