The House Committee on Human Rights has proposed imprisonment and fine against persons found guilty of racism or any act of discrimination committed on the basis of color, descent, religion, national, or ethnic origin of another person, including prejudice of portraying the victim in advertisement, movies, and other forms of mass media.

Chaired by Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay, the House panel has endorsed the swift approval of House Bill 8243 or the Equality and Non-Discrimination on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion Act by the House.

Suntay said the bill contains a number of provisions common among five legislative proposals filed on the subject. Among the authors are Reps. Amihilda Sangcopan (Anak Mindanao); Cheryl Deloso-Montalla (NUP, Zambales), Edgar Aglipay (DIWA party-list); and Jose Christopher Belmonte (LP, Quezon City).

“It is a sad fact of human nature that many feel threatened or are fearful of those who are not like us, those who are different, and even the most good natured and broad-minded will possess biases that can fester if left unexamined,” Aglipay said in the explanatory notes of his bill.

Aglipay, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government, stressed that there are other people or groups who “prey on this kind of prejudice and hatred, those who use the tyranny of the majority to exploit and dehumanize vulnerable marginalized groups.”

Sangcopan lamented that the backlash of the catastrophic World Trade Center in 2011 has greatly earned Muslims international backlash. “The Muslims in Mindanao and elsewhere in the Philippines are no exemption,” she said.

The consolidated bill listed a number of prohibited acts that are considered to be acts of discrimination against another person or group of persons on account of their race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, religion, or religious beliefs.

The bill provides the presumption of discrimination as a condition which arises when a person requires another person to comply with term, condition, or requirement which makes it difficult for another person to comply with or is considered unreasonable.

HB 8243 proposes the creation of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Committee in all agencies, corporations, and educational institutions in the private and government sector. The body will be tasked to exercise administrative jurisdiction to investigate acts and practices of discrimination.

Suntay said the bill proposes penalties of imprisonment of 30 days to six months imprisonment or a fine of not more than P100,000 or both.

Under the bill, prohibited acts of discrimination happen when persons are prevented or prohibited from exercising their political rights or when they are refused the supply of goods or services in view of their race, color, descent, or religion.

In politics, an act of prejudice is committed when a person is prevented or prohibited from exercising his or her political rights.

Discrimination in education and training is committed, among others, when a student is given limited or denied access to benefits provided by an institution or when the student is refused admission to an educational or training institution.

Refusing to allow another person access to or use of any place, vehicle, or facilities that the general public enjoy is considered a discriminatory act.

Discrimination in advertisement and mass media is also penalized if a person is portrayed as “stupid, barbaric, savage, dirty, wild, ignorant, and similar degrading or unrealistic portrayals.”