House OKs bill prohibiting discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading the measure seeking to prohibit acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and religion.

In a vote of ayes and nays, the chamber approved House Bill 8243, or the proposed "Equality and Non-Discrimination on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion Act," which essentially protects and promotes the rights to equality based on the said attributes.

Under the measure, it is unlawful for any person to perform any act which excludes or restricts another person due to his or her race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, religious affiliations, or beliefs.

These prohibited acts of discrimination based on these attributes include:

• Preventing the exercise of political rights
• Imposing onerous terms before granting political rights
• Refusing employment
• Denying or limiting access of an employee to the same terms and conditions and opportunities at work granted to another employee
• Dismissing an employee
• Refusing admission to an educational institution
• Refusing to supply goods and services
• Denying access to medical or health services, and application for a license, clearance or any other government document without lawful, valid and reasonable grounds
• Refusing to accept or process the application for any land, housing and other accommodations
• Refusing to permit another person to occupy any estate, land, housing, and other accommodations
• Refusing to allow a person to access or use any public place, vehicle or facility
• Portrayal of certain persons in the media as "stupid, barbaric, savage, dirty, wild, ignorant" and similar degrading or unrealistic portrayals
• Delivering speech or making utterances, performing acts of hatred or violence against another person on account of ethnicity, race, or religious affiliation or belief

Any person found guilty of violating such prohibited acts will be slapped under the measure with a penalty of imprisonment for a period of 30 days up to six months, or a fine of P10000 to P100,000, or both, depending on the gravity of the offense.

If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, the responsible officer, agent, or employee will be meted with the maximum jail sentence.

The same penalty will also be imposed if the perpetrator is an ascendant, parent, guardian, stepparent, or collateral relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity of the victim, or is the manager or owner of an establishment which has no or has an expired license to operate.

If the offender is a foreigner, he or she will be deported immediately and will be barred from entering the country.

The measure also provides for reparation for victims which could include restitution, compensation and rehabilitation, as determined by the courts, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial body concerned. —LDF, GMA News