By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday ordered an agency fact-finding team to look into the reported malicious exploitation of a mentally challenged person who was put on video and forced to say negative things against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
“We will treat that as exploitation and abuse of the person with disability and if proven true, we will see to it that the Department takes the lead in filing appropriate charges against the people behind this allegation,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
In a now-viral video uploaded on the Journal Pasig Facebook page, a 57-year-old woman with psychological disability said that she will no longer vote for the incumbent as she has yet to receive any form of assistance.
The woman’s niece has decried the malicious video, saying her aunt simply went to get free rice from a candidate in a neighboring barangay, but was told that she needed to record a video before she could leave.
The said her daughter has been distressed since the video was uploaded.
Gatchalian pointed out that using persons with disabilities for political ends may be a violation of Republic Act (RA) 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The law provides comprehensive measures to protect children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and discrimination, including severe penalties for offenders and programs for prevention and treatment.
Under RA 7610, the term “children” includes minors as well as adults who “are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition.”
It also mandates national government agencies to protect minors and those with special needs from any form of abuse, including “cruelty or exploitation” and “other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development.”
“Once again, the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable should not be exploited for the political gains of any candidate. As it is, our people with disabilities endure hardships day in and day out — they should be protected and aided, not abused,” Gatchalian said.
Unacceptable
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, called for swift investigation and accountability, as he expressed strong condemnation of the exploitation of persons with mental disabilities for political purposes.
“Using persons with disabilities (PWDs) in such tactics is a deplorable act of abuse that has no place in our electoral discourse and in a humane, civilized society,” he said.
“Respeto, proteksyon, at pagkalinga, hindi pagsasamantala para sa pulitika ang kailangan ng ating mga PWDs (Our PWDs need respect, protection, and care, not exploitation for political gain),” he added.
He urged law enforcement authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible, citing potential violations of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. (with report from Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)
