PWD traumatized after MRT guards deny him entry, accuse him of using fake ID

The mother of a person with disability (PWD) has cried foul after her son was denied entry into the train and accused of using fake identification card.

Shirley Iyulores said her son, Juan Miguel, was traumatized by the incident.

In a Facebook post dated November 5, Iyulores said that security guards Rochelle Gayoso and Rodelio Colico of Kaizen Security Agency Corporation refused to let her son inside the MRT-3 North Avenue station because he was purportedly carrying a "fake" PWD ID.  

Juan Miguel was supposed to take the MRT to attend training sessions for PWD at the College of St. Benilde in Manila, an activity that he has been engaged in since June this year.

“My son is a PWD with learning disability who was denied entry and accused of using a fake PWD ID. Said guards on duty even tried to confiscate the PWD ID. In proof that the ID is genuine, he even showed his PWD Beep Card but to no avail, which put him into further embarrassment. Who would not react just like my son, not accustomed to argue for himself, did when he just got his PWD ID and left the station?" Iyulores said in her social media post.

“Sad to say, my son behaved differently since then. He started to be in shock, having tantrums and mood swings which we were able to check because of continuous sessions with medical specialists at high costs if only to make him a helpful member of the community. It took a week before he opened up as we started to ask from him about these manifestations,” Iyulores added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), which sanctions MRT-3 operations, apologized for the incident but justified the security guards' actions by citing that it was customary to scrutinize the authenticity of the PWD ID because some passengers use fake PWD IDs.

The DOTr said that since PWD Juan Miguel presented his duplicate ID because he left the original copy at home, the guards reminded him to use his original ID next time.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the PWD passenger and his family regarding the incident. Please be assured that the DOTr MRT-3 does not condone any act that may offend or disrespect any person or passenger. While we do not intend to embarrass the bearers of valid PWD IDs, we note that cases of fake IDs being presented by some passengers in MRT-3 are not uncommon, which is why our security personnel are keen on scrutinizing the authenticity of an ID presented by a passenger,” the DOTR said.

“Rest assured that DOTr MRT-3 will continuously remind our security personnel to treat our passengers with dignity, especially our priority passengers, by approaching and explaining to them, in a calm and respectful manner, the policies being implemented by the MRT-3,” the DOTR added.

Iyulores, however, did not accept the DOTR's apology and disputed its account of events.

She said her son was bringing a duplicate ID because he keeps on losing the original copy.

“It might interest you to know that the PWD ID that my son had during the said incident was a duplicate original and we obtained it as advised by the PWD Affairs Office of Quezon City as my son keeps on losing the original copy. We spent on several affidavits of loss only to have it replaced. Verily, there is simply no basis that this is a fake PWD ID,” Iyulores said.

“My son went through a very humiliating experience only because of the ignorance of your security staff. Needless to say, this incident negated what we have gained in terms of building his mental well-being. We are back to square one. Your apologies are not good enough as long as the very people behind the incident are not truthful in recounting the incident,” she added.

Iyulores lamented that the rude treatment on her son caused serious anxiety, sleepless nights and wounded feelings not only upon her son but on those who love him.

“The training of your security personnel in dealing with PWDs seems to be limited in physical disabilities only.  Are they not aware of cases like ADHD, autism and the like? This incident should awaken your creative minds in improving your system and not punishing the innocent,” she said. — LDF, GMA News