18/02/2025
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๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ข๐
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๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) unequivocally condemns the alarming and reprehensible trend of mocking portrayals of persons with disabilities on social media. Such acts are not only deeply offensive but also constitute a direct violation of Republic Act No. 9442, which amends Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. This law explicitly prohibits verbal and non-verbal ridicule, as well as the vilification of persons with disabilities.
A recent viral post on social media depicts an individual pretending to be a person with a disability while crossing the street, seemingly for the sole purpose of gaining clout through disgraceful mockery. This dehumanizing act not only demeans and devalues persons with disabilities but also fosters contempt, ridicule, and discriminationโpotentially leading to emotional distress, diminished self-worth, and further marginalization of the disability community.
Any individual or group found guilty of such abhorrent behavior shall be held accountable under RA 9442, which prescribes penalties including fines and/or imprisonment for acts of ridicule and vilification against persons with disabilities.
We call upon the relevant authorities, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Facebook (Meta), and law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police, to take decisive action. We urge them to identify, investigate, and penalize perpetrators while strengthening efforts to monitor, deactivate, and deplatform those who engage in content that violates human rights and social media community standards.
Furthermore, we implore the public to exercise vigilance by refraining from patronizing, sharing, or engaging with such derogatory content. We encourage everyone to report incidents of discrimination and ridicule against persons with disabilities to the PNP, local Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs), and NCDA via [email protected].
As the national lead agency on disability affairs, NCDA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. We stand firm in upholding respect for their inherent dignity and call on all sectors of society to join us in rejecting and condemning all forms of discrimination and mockery against the disability community.
