QC gov't passes law penalizing COVID-19-related discrimination
Published Apr 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Quezon City (QC) government said on Thursday that it has now outlawed all forms of discrimination against COVID-19 patients, those suspected to have the coronavirus, health workers, and other frontliners caring for COVID-19 patients.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
(Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Mayor Joy Belmonte signed Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2020 which penalizes people who perform discriminatory acts against persons infected with or suspected of having the coronavirus, and members of their households. The order also protects health and emergency workers, as well as their families, from any act of discrimination. “Discrimination has no place in our city, especially during this time of crisis. We must put a stop to this once and for all,” Belmonte said. Violators will be penalized under Sec. 9 (a) of Republic Act No. 11332, the law regarding response to epidemics and health events of public health concern; as well as the Data Privacy Act, Cybercrime Prevention Act, and the Revised Penal Code, depending on their actions. “Ngayong may karampatang parusa na ang diskriminasyon, umaasa akong magdadalawang-isip na ang sinumang nagnanais na gumawa nito," Belmonte said. (Now that we have an appropriate punishment against discrimination, I expect anyone who wants to do this will think twice),” Belmonte said. Belmonte’s order came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked the local government units (LGUs) to pass measures that would protect frontliners and individuals positive for or suspected of having COVID-19 against discrimination. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported incidents of people being evicted from their homes, harassed, maltreated, and injured. In other instances, the DOH noted some were refused service by local stores, transportation, boarding houses, and other establishments for fear of infection. In Belmonte's order, any act of discrimination against persons under investigation (PUI), persons under monitoring (PUM), COVID-19 infected individuals, health workers, responders, and service workers is now prohibited. The prohibited acts include denial of access to any place or service, including housing, food, and transportation due to suspected infection or exposure to COVID-19. Belmonte also noted the order also bars stigmatization or the disclosure of the identity or personal data of a PUI, PUM, or any person suspected of exposure to COVID-19, whether offline or online, that would result in shame to the concerned person. Furthermore, public officials should not refuse assistance to PUI, PUM, COVID-19 infected persons, or any person suspected of exposure to the virus. Belmonte said the order will be in effect until President Duterte lifts the state of public health emergency.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte(Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Mayor Joy Belmonte signed Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2020 which penalizes people who perform discriminatory acts against persons infected with or suspected of having the coronavirus, and members of their households. The order also protects health and emergency workers, as well as their families, from any act of discrimination. “Discrimination has no place in our city, especially during this time of crisis. We must put a stop to this once and for all,” Belmonte said. Violators will be penalized under Sec. 9 (a) of Republic Act No. 11332, the law regarding response to epidemics and health events of public health concern; as well as the Data Privacy Act, Cybercrime Prevention Act, and the Revised Penal Code, depending on their actions. “Ngayong may karampatang parusa na ang diskriminasyon, umaasa akong magdadalawang-isip na ang sinumang nagnanais na gumawa nito," Belmonte said. (Now that we have an appropriate punishment against discrimination, I expect anyone who wants to do this will think twice),” Belmonte said. Belmonte’s order came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked the local government units (LGUs) to pass measures that would protect frontliners and individuals positive for or suspected of having COVID-19 against discrimination. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported incidents of people being evicted from their homes, harassed, maltreated, and injured. In other instances, the DOH noted some were refused service by local stores, transportation, boarding houses, and other establishments for fear of infection. In Belmonte's order, any act of discrimination against persons under investigation (PUI), persons under monitoring (PUM), COVID-19 infected individuals, health workers, responders, and service workers is now prohibited. The prohibited acts include denial of access to any place or service, including housing, food, and transportation due to suspected infection or exposure to COVID-19. Belmonte also noted the order also bars stigmatization or the disclosure of the identity or personal data of a PUI, PUM, or any person suspected of exposure to COVID-19, whether offline or online, that would result in shame to the concerned person. Furthermore, public officials should not refuse assistance to PUI, PUM, COVID-19 infected persons, or any person suspected of exposure to the virus. Belmonte said the order will be in effect until President Duterte lifts the state of public health emergency.