With President Rodrigo Duterte having previously stated his support for a Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (CADB), Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Monday urged his colleagues in both chambers of Congress to pass the measure, which the solon said would help prevent discrimination in all its forms and protect sectors that have been marginalized in the past.
“The passage of the CADB would send a strong and unequivocal message to our people: that there is no place for prejudice in our country,” said Abante.
The draft CADB was approved on Thursday by the House Committee on Human Rights. The draft substitute bill is a consolidation of several proposed anti-discrimination measures, including House Bill 5969 authored by Abante.
“A troubling reality is that discrimination in various forms still exists in the Philippines. Napapansin, nararamdaman, at nagiging biktima nito ang kababaihan, mga IPs (indigenous peoples), mga kapatid natin na Muslim, mga PWDs, at marami pang iba,” lamented the lawmaker.
“They all deserve to be treated fairly. They all deserve the protection of our laws. They all will benefit from the CADB.”
The draft CADB was approved on Thursday by the House Committee on Human Rights. The draft substitute bill is a consolidation of several proposed anti-discrimination measures, including House Bill 5969 authored by Abante.
Malacañang had as early as September 2019 stated that the President would certify a comprehensive anti-discrimination measure as urgent, which Abante said would bode well for the passage of the CADB.
The lawmaker pointed out that the support of the President, as well as the expressions of support from sectors that stand to benefit from the CADB, “are positive factors, positive signs for the CADB.”
“I have gotten messages of support from fellow pastors, my constituents in Manila, and other groups. They all recognize how this measure can right some very obvious wrongs. We should all take this as our cue to push for the immediate passage of this landmark law.”
The CADB seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, language, religious belief or expression, political opinions, national or social origin, property, birth and other status, among others.
Malacañang had as early as September 2019 stated that the President would certify a comprehensive anti-discrimination measure as urgent, which Abante said would bode well for the passage of the CADB.
It penalizes acts of discrimination such as (1) denial of political, civil, and cultural rights; (2) denial of right to education; (3) denial of right to work; (4) denial of access to good and services; (5) denial of right to organize; and (6) engaging in profiling, among others. Penalties under the measure include imprisonment of six months to five years and/or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000.