Nancy Binay hits Mocha Uson, Drew Olivar over sign language video

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Nancy Binay reminded yesterday Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar not to mock members of the deaf/mute community.

Binay issued the reminder after Uson shared a video she made to her millions of followers wherein Olivar was seen imitating sign language and sounds supposedly made by hearing-impaired people. Uson can be heard laughing in the background.

 The senator, an author of the Filipino Sign Language Bill recently passed in the Senate, said the video was disrespectful to the sizeable deaf/mute community, “who already struggle in airing their concerns and aspirations.”

 “I wish to remind Asec. Mocha that as a public official, it is paramount that she refrain from mocking the people she serves,” Binay said. 

She said she was “alarmed by the effects of this mockery and ridiculing.”

 “Such discriminatory actions set back our efforts to make our society more inclusive by providing a more conducive environment for deaf Filipinos to exercise their right to expression without prejudice,” she said.

 Binay warned that making fun of persons with disabilities is in violation of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (Republic Act 9442).

 “Again, sign language should never be made an amusement piece,” she said.