World | Philippines
Ridiculing of minorities to be crime under new bill
A lawmaker filed a bill that penalises those who make fun of the accent, way of dressing, and religious practices of the country's minorities, including Filipino-Muslims from southern Philippines.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:34 April 5, 2008
Manila: A lawmaker filed a bill that penalises those who make fun of the accent, way of dressing, and religious practices of the country's minorities, including Filipino-Muslims from southern Philippines.
"Mimicking minorities and making fun of them will soon be a crime in the Philippines," said pro-administration Congressman Faysah Dumarpa of Lanao del Sur in the south.
"In general, the bill seeks to prohibit religious or racial discrimination against Muslims and other members of the cultural minorities," Dumarpa said.
"The bill prohibits unnecessary, unjustified, illegal and degrading search of anyone because of his manner of clothing, religion, colour, creed and ethnic identity," said Dumarpa, adding this should put an end to the political harassment being suffered by all minorities nationwide.
"The bill also ensures the entry of a person wearing a traditional costume, veil or turban to restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, other public places, including passenger buses, taxis, ships or airplanes," said Dumarpa.
"The bill prevents discrimination against a person who is applying for a job," said Dumarpa.
"Discrimination against an applicant could be a reason for imprisonment."
The bill penalises violators with a fine ranging from P200 (Dh18.18) to as much as P6,000 (Dh545.45) or imprisonment from one month to six years.
Congressman Mujiv Hat-aman, a member of Mindanao's Children, a party-list in the House of Representatives, and one of the bill's co-author, said, "The proposed measure is in keeping with the policy of the state to value the dignity of everyone, whether he is a Filipino, Muslim, Igorot, Aeta or from other ethnic groups as guaranteed by our Constitution."
If approved, the bill could effectively institutionalise a constitutional guarantee of equal protection and religious freedom to everyone, said Hataman.
Congressman Solomon Chungalao.
He belongs to a large ethnic group in northern Luzon, is also a co-author of the bill.
The country's 84 million people include eight percent or 6.7 million Filipino-Muslims in the south. More than 100 cultural minorities are also found nationwide.
The proposed measure is in keeping with the policy of the state to value the dignity of everyone."Mujiv Hataman, Congressman.
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