Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed concerned agency officials to coordinate with the Antipolo City’s local government unit (LGU) in filing a criminal case against a group of men who made fun of a female senior citizen as shown in a video that has since gone viral.

“We will work with the Antipolo City LGU in filing a case against the group of four men who made fun of the senior citizen who is also a person with disability. This is a very cruel act and those responsible should be charged in court,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Secretary Gatchalian also tasked Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao to send a DSWD team that will assist the elderly female, who is also a person with disability, who was the subject of mockery by four men in Barangay Dela Paz in Antipolo City, Rizal in the evening of March 31.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson who is also with the special concerns of the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), said those behind the mockery of the senior person with disability are liable under Republic Act 9442, an act amending RA 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta For Disabled Persons.”

“Elderly people, especially when they have disabilities, should be respected and given the care they deserve by their families and the community where they belong,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

Under RA 9442, the verbal or non-verbal ridicule and vilification against Persons with Disability is expressly prohibited and entails penalties of a fine of not less than Php50,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months for the first violation.

For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than Php100,000.00 but not exceeding Php200,000.00 or imprisonment for not less than 2 years but not more than 6 years, or both at the discretion of the court.#