Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña on Tuesday filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against more than 30 vloggers over alleged mocking and homophobic attacks against him.
According to Jecelle Ricafort's report, Cendaña, together with 1-PWD Party-list Representative JD Castro, asked the NBI Cybercrime Division to investigate vloggers including Cho Moreno, MP Miko Pogay, Kiffy Chu, and others over possible violations of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability and the Safe Spaces Act.
Cendaña, a stroke survivor, said most of those attacking him allegedly disagree with his political views.
“Hindi dapat ito pinapalampas. Kasi kung palalampasin lamang ito, manonormalize ang pangbabaskos at panghiyak sa mga PWD. Isa yung nakikita natin ang common thread, marami sa kanila ay hindi nag-aagree sa atin politically,” Cendaña said.
He said he is prepared to engage in political discourse and debate but stressed that attacks should not be based on his disability.
“Masasabi natin marami sa kanila ay mga DDS. At handa naman tayo sa political discourse at sa bardahan pagdating sa politika. Pero hindi ito dapat dahil hindi sa usapin ng aming disability,” he added.
Cendaña stressed that there should be no place, online or offline, for mocking, humiliating, or dehumanizing persons with disabilities.
He also acknowledged the need to amend certain provisions of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability to facilitate accountability for individuals who allegedly hide behind their screens to launch attacks online.
Cendaña had earlier submitted a letter-complaint to the National Council on Disability Affairs seeking action against what he described as dehumanizing attacks against him and broader online harassment targeting persons with disabilities.
