Ed Jay
A warrant of arrest for grave slander by deed has been issued against Cebu-based personality Jude Bacalso following a highly publicized misgendering incident in July 2024 that sparked national controversy.
The incident happened on July 21, 2024, at a restaurant in a Cebu City shopping mall, where Bacalso allegedly reprimanded a 24-year-old waiter after he mistakenly addressed her as “sir.” Reports stated that Bacalso made the waiter stand for nearly two hours, during which she allegedly hurled insults and threats of termination at him.
The waiter, referred to as “Mark” (not his real name), reportedly endured the ordeal to keep his first job.
After details of the incident were shared online, it quickly went viral, and Bacalso faced intense criticism from netizens and various sectors. Bacalso later apologized to the restaurant’s employees but maintained that her complaint was valid.
However, the waiter reportedly experienced severe psychological distress following the incident. According to his lawyer, Atty. Ron Ivan Gingoyon, a psychological evaluation revealed that Mark suffered traumatic stress reactions, including crying episodes, social withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, and fear of going out in public.
In pursuit of justice, Mark filed formal complaints of unjust vexation, grave scandal, grave coercion, grave threats, and slight illegal detention against Bacalso at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office on August 28, 2024.
On January 7, 2025, Atty. Gingoyon confirmed that the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6 issued a warrant of arrest for Bacalso, with bail set at PHP 18,000.
The arraignment and pre-trial for the case have been set for January 23, 2025.
