MANILA // The Philippines' most popular comedian has drawn anger instead of laughs by joking about rape.
Vice Ganda was speaking to a packed arena audience when he made fun of a leading newscaster from a rival TV network by alluding to her weight and being gang-raped. ABS-CBN TV, where he works, did not air the remarks, but excerpts of the show reached YouTube.
Mr Ganda has apologised to Jessica Soho, the vice president for news programmes of GMA Network. Ms Soho said she hopes his apology was sincere.
"As I've said, this is not about me, but about the issue of rape not being an appropriate subject matter for comedy. Rape transcends age, economic class, gender — and even one's weight," she said in a statement.
ABS-CBN did not comment.
The government's policy-making body on women and gender equality today called on public figures not to glorify rape. The Philippine Commission on Women asked workers in entertainment and media to censor themselves when talking about abuse.
It called Mr Ganda's talk "tasteless and revolting."
"Rape jokes hurt women who are suffering or may have suffered from the trauma of rape. It is not a laughing matter," it said. According to the National Statistics Office, nearly one out of 10 women aged 15-49 has experienced sexual violence.
Mr Ganda, whose real name is Jose Marie Viceral has several TV shows and has appeared in several movies, including two top grossing movies where he played lead roles.
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
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Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National