Warrant Issued for Jude Bacalso in Misgendering Case
JUDE BACALSO – A warrant of arrest for grave slander by deed has been issued against the controversial Cebu personality following a misgendering controversy in July 2024. The incident took place on July 21 at a restaurant in a Cebu City shopping mall, where Bacalso reportedly made a 24-year-old waiter stand for nearly two hours after the waiter mistakenly addressed him as “sir.”
The young waiter, originally from Leyte and new to his job, stood still out of fear of losing his employment as Bacalso allegedly hurled insults and threats of termination at him. This encounter was shared online, quickly went viral, and subjected Bacalso to intense public criticism.
Despite facing backlash, Bacalso apologized to the restaurant’s staff but stood by his actions, insisting his complaint was valid. The victim, referred to as Mark (not his real name), experienced significant psychological distress from the incident. Represented by Lawyer Ron Ivan Gingoyon, Mark underwent a psychological evaluation, which revealed symptoms of traumatic stress, including crying episodes, fear of public exposure, sleeplessness, and anxiety about his safety.
Following the incident’s virality, Mark deactivated his social media accounts due to fear and embarrassment. Seeking accountability, he filed charges against Bacalso on August 28 at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. The complaints included Unjust Vexation, Grave Scandal, Grave Coercion, Grave Threats, and Slight Illegal Detention.
On January 7, 2025, Gingoyon received news that the warrant of arrest had been issued by the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6. Bail was set at P18,000, with the arraignment and pre-trial scheduled for January 23, 2025.
As of press time, Jude Bacalso has yet to issue any statement regarding the charges he faces. His last social media appearance was during a speaking engagement where he addressed the misgendering issue.