Arnold Clavio criticized for his alleged racist remark against the Azkals

GMA News anchor Arnold Clavio has recently become a subject of criticisms after his ‘racist’ remarks on the Philippine national football team Azkals. He remarked in a segment in Unang Hirit, a GMA morning program where he serves as a reporter, that the Azkals members, Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado, deserved it right referring to the recent sexual harassment case filed by match commissioner Cristina Ramos.

In his comment, he said “Sana nag sorry, sorry na lang talaga ‘di ba.. na ‘di ko kayo ka-kultura.. kasi wala dito’t wala dito (pointing to the chest and head), ‘di naman kayo Pilipino e, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi, hindi kayo dito lumaki. Mahirap ‘yun. Insensitive”

Netizens react to this issue, stating that it is mere crab mentality. Others say that the comments were racist, foul and harsh remarks, which is not of a responsible journalist.

The irony of it was he said insensitive and yet he didn’t consider the feelings of the other members of the Azkals when he said “di naman kayo Pilipino e, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi.”

After this issue, GMA-7 broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio has issued an official statement after drawing flak for his alleged racist statement about the Philippine Azkals.

The statement reads:

Mga igan, nakakalungkot na may negatibong reaksyon ang naging pahayag ko tungkol sa Philippine Azkals kaugnay ng sexual harassment complaint ni Ms. Cristy Ramos. Wala po akong ganoong intensyon. Ang isyu po rito ay sexual harassment at kung may nagamit man po akong mga salita na hindi angkop, nagpapakumbaba po ako at humihingi ng pang-unawa. Dun naman po sa mga kasama kong nanindigan laban sa sexual harassment, maraming salamat po. Seryoso pong isyu ito na dapat bantayan.

-Arnold Clavio