East Java Tourism Office Dismisses Tourism Ambassador Over Alleged Abortion Coercion

The East Java Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) has officially dismissed and revoked the status of Tio Ferdian Rahmana as a Tourism Ambassador or Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026. The decision was made following an ethics hearing concerning the alleged coercion of abortion by Tio against his girlfriend.

Head of East Java Disbudpar Evy Afianasari stated that the ethics hearing was conducted involving several parties, including East Java Disbudpar, Surabaya City Culture, Youth, Sports and Tourism Office (Disbudporapar), the jury panel of the 2026 Raka Raki Grand Final, the East Java Raka Raki Association, the Surabaya Cak Ning Community, and a psychologist.

“Yes, it is true that today an ethics hearing was held involving us, the East Java Culture and Tourism Office, Surabaya City Disbudporapar, the jury panel of the 2026 Raka Raki Grand Final, the East Java Raka Raki Association, the Surabaya Cak Ning Community, and a psychologist,” said Evy when confirmed on Tuesday (11/8).

Evy explained that the hearing resulted in three decisions. Firstly, Tio’s status as Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026 is revoked, thereby releasing him from all rights and obligations. “In the meeting, it was decided that one, revoke the status of Saudara Tio Ferdian Rahmana as Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026, so that the person concerned is released from all rights and obligations as Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026,” she said.

Secondly, Tio is required to return all attributes he received during his tenure, including the sash, trophy, certificate, as well as cash prizes, products, and vouchers. “The second decision is that Saudara Tio Ferdian Rahmana is required to return all attributes: the sash, trophy, and certificate, and prizes in the form of cash, products, and vouchers received to the East Java Culture and Tourism Office,” she stated.

Thirdly, Disbudpar Jatim decided not to appoint a replacement for the title of Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026, which was revoked from Tio. “The third decision is as a form of commitment to the consequences of the code of ethics violation, no replacement will be appointed for the title of Deputy 1 Raka of East Java 2026. These are the results of the Raka Raki East Java code of ethics violation hearing. Thank you,” Evy concluded.

The decision is also recorded in the Official Report of East Java Disbudpar Number: 500.13.4.1/118.4/2026 regarding the Meeting on the Code of Ethics Violation of Raka Deputy 1 (Tio Ferdian Rahmana), signed by Evy and seven other authorised individuals.

It is known that Tio Ferdian Rahmana, the runner-up of Raka Raki East Java 2026 and also Cak & Ning Surabaya 2023, allegedly forced his girlfriend to terminate her pregnancy or have an abortion. The allegation went viral after screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation between Tio and a woman claiming to be his girlfriend circulated on social media platforms Instagram and Threads. In the circulating posts, Tio allegedly asked a woman who was 12 weeks pregnant to terminate the pregnancy in Singapore.

The Surabaya City Government has officially dismissed Tio Ferdian Rahmana, a member of Raka Raki East Java who allegedly forced his girlfriend to have an abortion. Besides being a member of Raka Raki or East Java Tourism Ambassador 2026, Tio is known to have worked as a staff member in the General Affairs, Protocol and Leadership Communication Division of the Surabaya City Government.

Head of the General Affairs, Protocol and Leadership Communication Division of the Surabaya City Government, Ario Bagus Permadi, said Tio was a non-ASN contract worker at the Surabaya City Government, as well as a former Cak and Ning Surabaya 2023. “Tio is not a civil servant (ASN) from the general affairs prokopim division. He is a non-ASN contract worker because his basic background is Cak Surabaya,” said Ario when confirmed on Monday (10/8).

Ario mentioned that Tio was initially hired to be a master of ceremony (MC) or host for events held by the Surabaya City Government around 2024. After that, he was recruited as a contract employee. The Surabaya City Government became aware of the information regarding Tio allegedly forcing a woman to have an abortion through social media. They subsequently took steps to clarify the matter with the person concerned.

After conducting the clarification, Ario said the Surabaya City Government decided to impose a sanction of dismissal on Tio. However, regarding the content of the examination, he admitted he did not have the authority to disclose it to the public. “We carried out a termination of employment, PHK, as of this morning. As for the results of the investigation and clarification, that is an internal matter,” he concluded.

On the other hand, authorities have urged the victim of the alleged abortion coercion by Tio Ferdian Rahmana to report the matter to the police immediately. Head of the PPA-PPO Unit of Surabaya Metropolitan Police, AKBP Melatisari, said her party has indeed been monitoring the case. However, so far, no report has been received from the victim. “We are monitoring, but so far there has been no report. As a basis for investigation, we urge the victim to file a report immediately,” said Melatisari on Monday (10/8).