Hontiveros files a bill penalizing discrimination against frontliners
Hontiveros files a bill penalizing violence and discrimination against frontliners
The
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly affected nations worldwide,
including the Philippines, and has caused and is continuing to cause loss of
lives and disruption to the economy.
The life of a police
officer/soldier or frontliner is one of uncertainty. These frontliners put
their lives on the line not only to provide for the needs of their loved ones but
more importantly, to fulfill their sworn duty to help and protect the Filipinos
against the pandemic COVID-19.
Following
the reports of discrimination against frontliners, Senator Risa Honteviros
filed Senate Bill No. 1436, otherwise
known as the “Mandatory Protection of Health Workers, Frontliners and Patient Act”
seeking to penalize those who would discriminate against frontiner amid over
the pandemic COVID-19.
Sen.
Hontiveros said that: “In the midst
of this crisis, our health workers continue to work at the frontlines, risking
their and their families’ health and well-being for the health and well-being
of our community. Discrimination against health workers is a crime against public
health.”
She
pointed out that: “Ignorance and
hostility will not protect us from the disease. Now, more than ever, we need
compassion and community. Now, more than ever, we need to protect our health
workers and frontliners.”
Once
this bill passed into law, violators will be fined between ₱20,000 to ₱50,000 and will face imprisonment of one to six months.
On
the other hand, the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) urges the
Local Government Units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance and enforce anti-discrimination
as well as anti-harassment to protect frontliners combating against coronavirus
2019.
According
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, “We are
alarmed by the reports that reach our office on the harassment and
discrimination experienced by our frontline workers including health professionals,
police, military, essential services personnel, and government and
non-government social workers. Sila pa naman ang mga bayani sa gitna ng laban
sa Covid-19 subali’t nakakaranas at iniinda pa nila ang diskriminasyon at
harassment.”