Public ridicule is “making fun or contemptuous imitating or making mockery – in writing or in words, or in action” of PWDs because of their impairment.
The law is Republic Act 9422, an act amending the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
The law identifies two forms of vilifying PWDs: One, uttering slanderous and abusive statements against them. Two, an activity in public which incites hatred toward serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of PWDs.
Regaling his audience in Kalibo, Duterte performed: “Iyong isa doon, classmate ko pa. Eh na-stroke, paganoon-ganoon” as he mimicked the half-paralyzed movement of a stroke victim.
Showing no mercy, he said, “ Gusto ko sabihin, ‘Pakamatay ka na lang’.”
He also related a story complete with action about a half-paralyzed man who was still fond of women. “Iyong isa doon, 87 o 88, pagdating niya siguro maingay na, gaganon siya pilit siguro may spinal problem. Tinutulak pa, ganoon.Tapos, tumatakbo iyong mga babae, tinutulak iyong mukha. Tapos ibalik ng yaya.”
The crowd applauded his performance.
Many who have stroke victims relatives felt hurt by Duterte’s ridicule.
One of them is Bib Macasaet, wife of Butch Macasaet, publisher of Abante tabloid. Bib and Butch have a special child who has overcome his disability and is now helping other children with special needs.
Bib’s father-in-law, Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet, is recovering from a stroke.
“I take great offense at what Duterte said because I have a son with special needs and my father-in-law just suffered a stroke November 2015 and is a wheelchair user,” she said.
“You are a mentally ill person, Duterte, “ Bib lambasted Duterte.
“How dare you laugh and make fun of stroke patients who are immobile and helpless? My father-in-law is a stroke patient and I will not allow you, to say ‘pakamatay ka na lang’ because he can’t help himself. Who do you think you are to make a mockery of disabled people? “
Bib also took on the people who were laughing at Duterte’s tasteless joke: “I take it that none of you have relatives with disabilities or stroke patients – or else you wouldn’t be laughing. ”
Bib asked the Filipino people to wake up and stand up to Duterte:” Philippines, we just can’t allow this person to go on degrading people, most especially the helpless ones. “
By the way, R.A 9422 states that any person who violates will be fined, for the first violation of not less than P50,000.00 but not exceeding P100,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than two years, or both at the discretion of the court.
For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than P100,000.00 but not exceeding Two P200,000.00 or imprisonment for not less than two years but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court.
But first, someone has to file a complaint.
***
Related event:
Getting it Right: Reporting on Disability in the Philippines will be launched on Wednesday, April 27, at 2:30 p.m. at Joy 1 and 2 Function Rooms, 5th Floor, Oakwood Premier, Joy – Nostalg Center, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Getting it Right is a project of the Fully Abled Nation, aimed to increase public awareness of the importance of PWDs’ right to suffrage and right to participate in democratic processes. It is carried out in the Philippines by The Asia Foundation with assistance from The Australian Aid.
Produced by VERA Files, Getting it Right is designed as reporting guidebook but it is also helpful to non-journalists on communicating about PWDs.
Anybody with the heart for PWD is invited.
https://www.facebook.com/robbie.meriales/posts/10209175367724916
From Magdalena Gonzaga:
I wish to thank you for letting the people know who Duterte really is.
I am a parent with a child with disability and am shocked and distressed that a man who wants to be president is thinking and talking in this abusive way What is next. He will be talking about killing newborn babies and children with disabilities and be laughing about it? It maybe an exaggeration on my part but isnt that what Hitler meant in his Eugenics movement, the elimination of the undesirables?
Also, he claims to be an adherent of the law. Did he not violate Section 7 & 8 of RA 7277? Shouldn’t he be punished for violating the law? That includes all his supporters who were laughing and enjoying his “palabas” and for what purpose? to embarrass and cause pain to the parents and family of the peoplre with disabilities?
I wish to call on all parents, family members and supporters of people with disabilities for Duterte to recant his derogatory remarks and apologize publicly to the disability community.
I hope you can help us make a public statement in the media to this effect.
Thank you very much and I hope we have found a strong ally and advocate in you.
#2 Magdalena, I hear you and sympathize with you but I beg to disagree with your portrayal of Du30. The man is not perfect and so everybody is. Would you elect a president who did not offend you and your child BUT cannot lead the country and in the end hurt everybody because the country is a MESS? We are electing a LEADER and not a SAINT. I’m pretty sure Mar, Grace and Binay have done everything not hurt people’s feeling so they can get the vote BUT do you want to continue the CHAOS that we’re in right now where DRUGS, CRIMES and CORRUPTION are all time high and where BASIC SERVICES are not provided? Don’t you want to end the WAR in MIndanao where people are killed? DU30 is the only one I see that has the experience and the GUTS to solve these issues.
@#1: Post a video of Duterte about such incident, not something you invented on delusion.
@#3: Don’t be smitten with above letter, it’s a hoax, made up by weird people. The writer is not even in FB. She’s too good to be true and she even knew the sections violated in the RA.
Nakapasok din after many weeks.
About ‘Pakamatay ka na lang’; my father (RIP), when he was alive, and we were talking about ilnesses, once said, kung mababaldado ako, ang unang dasal ko, Diyos ko, kunin mo na lang ako. I take Digong’s joke in the context of my Dad’s stated preference. Nangyari nga. It was swift, no pain, no suffering. Malungkot man, I thank the Lord for the merciful passing.
I would like context on this Pakamatay ka na lang comment.
Another example: My grandfather, talking to my grand-uncle, who was a teetotaler, and ironically on his deathbed for cirrhosis, told the grand-uncle. “Bayaw. You drink, you die. You do not drink, you die. Better to drink.” They had a good laugh. He was my grandfather’s favorite bayaw. (Tatlo ang sisters ni Lolo.) They had a good friendship, and they knew it was the other’s time. Good old Catholic stoicism – staring death in the face, and laughing.
Yung matandang 87 to 88, at susuray-suray. The humor there is, baldado ka na, chickboy ka pa? I, myself, am laughing at the inveterate womanizing, not the disability. Malamang ganyan din ang audience. Heck, kahit in good health ka pa, chickboy ka pa rin sa ganyang edad? Turkey neck na ang leeg mo, ni Viagra hindi ka mabigyan ng flag ceremony, ang lakas naman ng fighting spirit mo Tanda.