DOT probes incident involving Cebu resort, child with special needs

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched an investigation into the incident where a child with special needs was discriminated in a resort in Cebu, Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said said Wednesday.

Puyat told GMA News Online the DOT will seek the advice of the Department of Justice for the appropriate action into the issue, which recently went viral.

“The DOT has already launched an investigation into the matter, and after due notice and hearing, will mete the proper administrative sanctions to the resort,” she said.

“The DOT will also coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its proper action under the Disability Law, under which the aggrieved party may also file the complaint,” she added.

The issue stemmed from a now viral Trip Advisor review of the resort on Sunday written by a mother of a six-year-old child with autism. In the review,  she narrated her experience which she described as discriminating.

Mai said her son Fin would make squealing sounds whenever they went in the waters, as he often does whenever he was excited or happy.

However, they were told off by lifeguards even as she tried to explain to them that her child has special needs.

Resort’s resident shareholder Manny Gonzalez had replied to Mai and accused her of "most likely deliberately lying" since "uncontrolled shouting is not a symptom of autism."

He even went as far as to question the child's diagnosis.

Gonzalez already apologized about the incident.—AOL, GMA News