The Internet Won't Let Anthony Taberna Get Away With Victim-Blaming

For a show about making your mornings good, this news segment from the February 19 episode of Umagang Kay Ganda did quite the opposite. While reporting about a 19-year-old girl who became the victim of gang-rape 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.

"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."

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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

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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 paalalasa 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."

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So in today's episode of @ukgdos, Anthony Taberna decided to victim-blame a woman who was gang raped. Oh, this man. I don't think I'm alone in thinking na hindi nakagaganda ng umaga - at ng buhay! - ang mga ganitong tao sa TV. To quote Ang Larawan, "Paalam, Candida!"

— Juan Miguel Severo (@TheRainBro) February 19, 2018

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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.

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Umagang Kay Ganda has since issued a statement saying that they have brought up the issues with Taberna.

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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

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This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.

* Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.