Disrespect to Covid-19 Frontliners Gets 1-Yr Jail Time

A fine of around Php 5,000 and imprisonment of not more than one year will be meted to any person who harasses, discriminates, dishonors, and disrespects frontliners currently considered heroes in the fight against the dreaded 2019 Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The “Frontliners Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Ordinance of the Province of Cebu” considers it unlawful for any person to carry out acts considered as harassment, discriminatory, inhuman, dishonorable and grossly disrespectful.

Such acts include inflicting physical harm to any frontliner because of his/her risk of exposure and performance of his/her duty during a public health emergency.

Disallowing any frontliner to ride any mode of public transportation and preventing them to enter the boarding house or compound where he or she is regularly occupying are also considered unlawful.

However, the only exception is if the frontliner’s presence poses clear danger to nearby residents and will surely cause possible spreading of infectious diseases which cannot be prevented by any precautionary measure.

Other harmful acts are deliberate placing of any frontliner in public ridicule, mockery or verbal abuse; throwing of any liquid or hurling objects as a form of indignation to their continued performance of their duties; denying access to any food establishment, supermarkets, public markets, bakeshops, or convenience stores; and the indifference of treatment in the availing of any public programs and services; among others.

Appropriate administrative charges will also be filed against local government officials, officers, and employees who violate the said ordinance.

Frontliners generally refer to “all medical or healthcare workers and emergency responders including those performing essential tasks in the maintenance, operation and provision of various services.

These services include medical, funeral, basic services, security, financial and other services, logistical, personnel or manpower services, and other services of general concern.

The ordinance was passed in a special session of the Provincial Board on April 6 with 4th District PB Member Kerrie Keane Shimura as principal author and 6th District PB Member Glenn Anthony Soco as co-author. (SN)