A MANDAUE City official will file a case against a social media user for allegedly discriminating against LGBTQ+ pride flags that were on display in the city as part of the Pride Month celebration.
City Treasurer Regal Oliva said on Friday, June 30, 2023, that they are preparing to file a complaint against Roch Dungog, who posted on June 15 a photo of the pride flags with the caption “Ga bayot2 nmn lge nig Flag ang Mandaue (Why Mandaue’s flag is so gay)?”
The post went viral and was shared by numerous LGBTQ+ communities.
Mandaue City has the Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance for People of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression, which carries penal provision against people who discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other gender identities.
The ordinance, which was passed in 2016, prohibits anyone “to discriminate any person and/or group of people on the basis of sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.”
Oliva, a lawyer, said he had reached out to Dungog on Facebook Messenger to demand an apology, but Dungog had not opened the message.
Oliva said they have obtained screenshots and are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation 7 to confirm the veracity of the post by verifying the IP address.
The city treasurer said the word “bayot-bayot” used in the post was more of a degrading remark than just a question, as it seemed to presuppose something negative.
SunStar Cebu reached out to Dungog through Messenger. He said his post was not intended to be offensive or meant to offend anyone, adding that it was unfortunate that there are people who choose to spread hate.
Reglyn Bihag, president of the LGBTQ Federation of Mandaue City, expressed disappointment upon reading the social media post and seeing the photo. Bihag questioned why Mandaue was being singled out, as the city has celebrated pride month for years except during the pandemic.
The viral photo has already been deleted.