Amid 'Machong Chismisan controversy, expert issues reminder to be 'humane' when practicing freedom of speech

An expert on Thursday called on the public to remember their "humanity" while enjoying their freedom of speech, amid the recent remarks of Machong Chismisan about Josh Aquino.

In an interview, child protection specialist Ace Diloy of Stairway Foundation said a person's right to free speech ends once it overshadow's another person's right.

"Yes, we have freedom of speech, at yun ay inherent na karapatan ng lahat ng individuals...pero at the same time, we also have to excercise our humanity kasi yung karapatan ng isang tao ay nag e-end kapag nasasaklawan na nya ang karapatan ng ibang tao," Diloy told GMA News Online.

(Yes, we have freedom of speech and that is an inherent right of every individual, but at the same time, we also have to excercise our humanity because a person's right ends if it overshadows other people's right.)

"Yes we have the freedom of speech but let's be sensitive and let's empathize with other vulnerable sectors," he added.

Stairway Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit, non-government child care organization located in Puerto Galera.

On Wednesday, a clip from the Machong Chismisan podcast went viral after an episode, which has since been deleted, featured the hosts making disparaging remarks about Kris Aquino’s son, Josh, and his disability.

The show was then removed from The Pod Network on Thursday. It's also no longer on Spotify as of writing.

Diloy said the disparaging remarks against Josh personally hurt him, as he shared that he too is a father of a person in the autism spectrum,

"Nasaktan ako kasi bilang isang tatay ng isang batang may autism din, hindi ko tinitingnan yung condition as a subject for comedy or humor," said Diloy.

(I was hurt because, as a father of a child who also has autism, I don’t view the condition as a subject for comedy or humor.)

"kung Inaamplify niyo yung vulnerability ng isang individual, ng isang condition. I would say dapat may malinaw na line na dapat hindi i-cross," he added.

(If you are amplifying the vulnerability of an individual or a condition, I would say there should be a clear line that must not be crossed.)

He welcomed the reaction of netizens calling out the remarks done in the Machong Chismisan.

One of the the podcast hosts, Tito P, later apologized for his remarks against Josh, revealing that he has ADHD.

But, for Diloy, the host's condition should not be used to justify his actions.

"Ngayon lang yan kasi lumabas yung ADHD card niya so hindi ko alam ang motivation ay ito ba ay justification or rationalization," Diloy told reporters.

(This is the first time his ADHD was brought up, so I’m not sure about the underlying motivation if is this meant as a justification or a rationalization?)

"Regardless, hindi siya justification sa behavior kasi adult siya. At alam niya na kung tutuusin, dapat mas naiintindihan niya yung possible stigma ng gano'ng actions and behaviors kung sinasabi niya siya ay nasa disability sector," he added.

(Regardless, it doesn't justify the behavior, as he is an adult. Moreover, given that his claims, he should be even more aware of the potential stigma associated with such actions and behaviors.)

Published on October 5, the recorded episode entitled "Ang Pagbabalik ni Kris Aquino" featured remarks mocking Josh Aquino.

A number of celebrities including Boy Abunda, Michael Leyva, and Mark Leviste has come to defend Josh. — LA, GMA News