HUMANE treatment for persons with disabilities is now in question, as Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw called for a council investigation on the incident involving personnel of the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) and a visually impaired man.
Madino Codasi, who was accosted and fined for jaywalking last week, is considering to file a case against personnel of Baguio City's POSD.
Codasi and another companion crossed the street where they were not supposed to, forcing the POSD personnel to apprehend them with a jaywalking citation ticket.
Marvin Garcia Herrera, head of POSD, earlier said the apprehension of Codasi was done in a just and lawful manner.
But Allad-iw, an advocate of PWD rights, said Codasi's visual impairment is nearing total blindness, forcing him to navigate the streets only with a companion.
"I am convinced that he [Codasi] is blind, all he can see are shapes, that is why he needs a companion when he is going out. Given that they may have jaywalked, is that the way to treat them?" Allad-iw said.
Codasi is a flower vendor from La Trinidad town who makes ends meet by selling blooms at the public market. His companion, a porter, was also carrying a big order of flower when they were crossing the street.
POSD personnel called both of them via megaphone, approached them, and continued to reprimand them verbally.
"Hindi maganda ang treatment sa kanila, may mga sinabi sa kanila na mali at masasamang salita, inhumane, inilabas pa niya ID niyang PWD, sinusundan lang niya ang porter niya, tinikitan siya after niya mag explain and na question pa siya kung bakit di sa linya ng citation ticket nag sign, eh hindi nga niya Makita," Allad-iw said.
But Herrera stood by the actions of POSD, saying no maltreatment nor abuse was done.
Codasi and POSD are urged to attend the regular council session next week to shed light on the matter, review the engagement procedure of the division mandated to protect the public in hopes to give justice and craft legislation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"We have advised him [Codasi] that he may file a formal complaint to Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as, a case in our courts on the abusive treatment he was at the receiving end," he added.
Allad-iw said a group of lawyers has volunteered to take on Codasi's case.
A petition to dismiss Herrera on the grounds of maltreatment, harassment, official misconduct, and abuse of official position was also launched online.