THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will conduct a parallel investigation into the alleged discrimination against a child with autism at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa on Mactan Island, Cebu.
DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he received a letter from Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Thursday, December 10, 2020, asking for assistance on the matter.
“The DOJ (Department of Justice) will act accordingly. As chief enforcer of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, the DOJ will conduct a parallel investigation of the Plantation Bay incident,” he said.
“(It’s) possible (that we will tap the National Bureau of Investigation), but we have yet to determine the most expedient way to handle the situation. Our action in this regard may set a precedent for similar situations in the future,” he added.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has already launched an investigation into the administrative aspect of the incident, in which a mother and her child with special needs experienced discrimination from the resort staff and the resident shareholder.
The DOJ investigation will focus on the criminal aspect. Discrimination against disabled persons, including a child with autism, is penalized under the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, or Republic Act 7277.
First-time violators face a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 or imprisonment of six months to two years, or both.
Mai Pages, mother of a child with autism, gave a negative review and a one-star rating on the resort’s page in TripAdvisor.
She said they were called out by the lifeguards for being noisy after her child started squealing in excitement at swimming.
Pages said the resort is not suitable for families and kids with special needs.
Responding to Pages’ post, resident shareholder Manny Gonzalez accused Pages of lying about her child’s condition. He lectured Pages on the noise-making policy of the resort and said she should have reviewed their policies as stated on their website, confirmation letter and social media before booking.
Gonzalez’s reply included his concept of how a child with autism behaves. He removed this and issued a letter of apology after drawing backlash on social media. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)