Abuse suffered by a person with disability on bus, inhumane – DSWD

“Violence inflicted against a person with disability is inhumane and must be dealt with by the law.”

This was stressed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as it commits to provide assistance to the person with disability (PWD) who was physically abused aboard a public transportation and vows to help put the perpetrators to justice.

DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) Director Edwin Morata said on Friday (June 13) that the video of the assault circulating on social media clearly showed the distress of the person with disability and the aggression of the perpetrators.

“Walang anumang excuse ang ginawa nilang pambubugbog sa nakikita naman nilang person with disability at alam nilang nangangailangan ng unawa. Hindi makatao ang gawaing ganun. Hindi lang isa, tinadyakan, sinusuntok pagkatapos ay inelectrocute pa,” Director Edwin Morata pointed out.

The DSWD official said persons with disabilities are one of the most vulnerable groups in society and are under the stewardship of the State.

“Government is exerting all efforts to ensure that the persons with disability sector is provided with the needed assistance to help protect their rights, welfare, and lead them to development. Violent actions against any member of the sector set us back in achieving our goal of giving them a chance to nation building,” Director Morata explained.

Under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, government agencies are to provide a whole-of-government approach to protect and promote the welfare of persons with disability.

Mandated to care for and protect the rights of the vulnerable sectors, the DSWD is currently coordinating to locate the victim for the provision of the appropriate assistance and interventions.

“Nakikipag-ugnayan na tayo upang mahanap ang biktima at mabigyan ng kaukulang assistance. Maliban sa tinamo niyang injury, kakailanganin din ang assistance upang matulungan siyang iprocess ang trauma mula sa pangyayari,” Director Morata said.

The rights and welfare of persons with disabilities are protected under the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability or Republic Act No. 7277, which also specifically prohibits any form of discrimination against the sector to include the right to public accommodations.

Under the Revised Penal Code, physical abuse is punishable by imprisonment, with maximum punishment to be determined by the impact of the act. In this case, abuse against a minor as provided for by the Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”

Any act of verbal and non-verbal maltreatment and public ridicule against a person with disability is also subject to punishment as specifically stated under Republic Act No. 9442.

As one nation, DSWD is also appealing to the public for any information on the perpetrators and to report to law enforcers.

“Hindi pwedeng palagpasin ang ganitong kalupitan, sa person with disability man or sa ibang sektor. Malinaw na abuso ang ginawa nila. Kung may impormasyon kayo ukol sa mga nanakit, ipagbigay alam po sa kapulisan, sa amin, or sa alinmang ahensiya ng gobyerno,” Director Morata said. (GDVF)

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