EDITORIAL - Respect for PWDs

Several laws have been passed, promoting the welfare of persons with disabilities. Republic Act 7277, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, was enacted in March 1992.

RA 7277 banned discrimination against PWDs and provided equal access to employment, education and health services. The magna carta also paved the way for access ramps, parking spaces and similar amenities for PWDs.

Over the years, four laws amending RA 7277 expanded the privileges, discounts, social benefits and job opportunities for PWDs, including mandatory and automatic Philippine Health Insurance coverage.

RA 9442, enacted in April 2007, also expressly prohibits the public vilification as well as verbal and non-verbal ridicule of PWDs, and penalizes violators with imprisonment ranging from six months to six years and fines of P50,000 to P200,000.

And yet there are still people who see PWDs as targets of public ridicule. Yesterday, a complaint was filed before the National Bureau of Investigation by 1PWD party-list Rep. JD Castro against the five hosts and producer of the comedy podcast “Machong Chismisan.”

The wheelchair-bound congressman, a former athlete and musician who has been diagnosed with spinal and muscular atrophy, is standing up for Kris Aquino’s son Joshua, who is on the autism spectrum, and who became the subject of disparaging comments during the podcast on Oct. 5 on the Pod Network.

Amid an intense public backlash, co-hosts Mark Cruz, a.k.a. Makoy Pare, and Tito Patrioto issued a public apology and deleted the episode, while the Pod Network announced that it had terminated “immediately” its contract with “Machong Chismisan.” The others in the controversial episode were Daniel Lawrence Vivar, Juan Paulo Mojica and RJ Carbonell.

Kris Aquino, who has been debilitated herself by autoimmune diseases, said she would not take action against the five. JD Castro then decided to pursue legal action.

One positive aspect in this controversy is the public opprobrium heaped on the podcast hosts. The case has highlighted the lingering scornful attitude toward PWDs. People suffering from a deficit of kindness and humanity must also be reminded about the legal protections for persons with disabilities.