Anti-discrimination bid to irk many: vice mayor

Friday, January 28, 2011

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he expects his proposed anti-discrimination ordinance to spur heated reactions.

Duterte said "some people" will be irked with his proposed law wherein "all people will be treated equally."

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

"Daghan mupalag ani. Kani wala nay relihiyon, wala nay Kristiyanos o Muslim ka man. Ang atoa diri kay diretso Pilipino. (A lot will be irked. With this law, there will be no religion, no division between Christians and Muslims. Here in Davao, all of us would be treated equally as Filipinos). It's not a question nga nag buot-buot (that we're deciding things on our own) but providing harmony in the country," Duterte said.

The proposed law dubbed "Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City" cites six provisions from the 1987 Constitution, mainly on social justice, respect for human rights, promotion of the rights of indigenous cultural communities, equal access to opportunities for public service, access to protection through laws, and equality of employment.

Any person liable under the proposed ordinance shall be punished with fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days at the discretion of the court. A subsequent conviction after the first, for any of the acts punishable under the proposed ordinance shall be penalized by a higher amount of fine and imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.

Duterte said he is determined to have the ordinance passed, saying he has already sealed agreement from City Councilor Melchor Quitain to sponsor the resolution on the floor.

However, Duterte also said he is currently having the proposed resolution lobbied for reactions in communities.

"Let drafts be distributed in communities. Kung dili kaayo bloody, isulod na nato ni sa agenda (If it won't turn out bloody, we'll have this forwarded into the agenda)," Duterte said.

Duterte's proposed anti-discrimination law detailed several acts of discrimination:

* By refusing employment to a job applicant or imposing onerous terms or conditions which are not imposed on another similarly situated or circumstanced, on the basis of ethnic origin, religious affliction or belief, gender, descent, race or color of skin, among other factors.

* By refusing or failing to accept any person or admission as a student in any public or private educational and/or vocational institution, among other situations pertaining education.

* By refusing to provide goods or services and/or imposing onerous terms or conditions as a requisite for providing good or services by reason of ethnic origin, religious affliction or belief, gender, race, and color of skin.

* By refusing or failing to allow a person to avail of quarters or accommodation in a house, apartment, condominium, townhouse, flat, hotel, inn, dormitory, or any other places of dwelling by reason of ethnic origin, religious affliction or belief, gender, race, and color of skin.

* By subjecting, either by verbal or writted word or publication, to ridicule or insult or attributing despicable behavior and/or bad habits or associating with violence and criminal activities, any person or group of persons by reason of his ethnic origin, religious affliction or belief, gender, race, and color of skin.

* By refusing entry to restaurants or places of entertainment and businesses which are open to the general public, or refusing or failing to attent to or serve the orders for food, drinks, beverages and other consumable and non-consumable goods by reason of his ethnic origin, religious affliction or belief, gender, race, and color of skin.

* By doing any other analogous act which demands the dignity and self-respect of a person or impairs, mars, reduces, or nullifies the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise of his human and legal rights and basic freedoms in the political, labor economic, social, cultural, and spheres on the basis of ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, gender, race and color of his skin.

The proposed law also cites generally accepted principles of international laws: the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief; the 1993 UN General Assembly Resolution on Elimination of All Forms of Religious Tolerance; and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.