Labella opposes bill on “ban of mimicking”
Councilor Edgardo Labella has expressed his opposition to the proposed law that seeks to penalize mimicking or imitating a person’s way of speaking, particularly in his “peculiar accent or diction.”
The councilor said that the measure, which was recently approved by the House committee on national cultural communities, may go against the right of the people for freedom of expression.
“I’m quite not in favor of it. We can’t just punish anyone. Impersonating is okay as long as the purpose is not malicious or if it is for entertainment value and does not hurt the person being mimicked,” he said.
Labella, chairman of the committee on laws, ordinances, good governance and public accountability, explained that in a democratic country like the
He reacted to the recent approval of the proposed measure at the committee level.
“For me it’s (mimicking) okay as long as it’s only for purposes of entertainment and does not hurt anyone. As long as it does not offend the senses, no problem. This country has so many problems already, so let’s have some sense of humor,” Labella said.
Under House Bill 948, authored by Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah Dumarpa, any insulting act or degrading manner of a person towards another, especially if it is centered on one’s being a cultural minority, will soon be criminalized under Philippine laws.
Dumarpa, a member of the administration coalition in the House of Representatives, said the bill seeks to “prohibit religious or racial discrimination against Muslim and other members of the cultural minorities.”
The bill penalizes violators with a fine ranging from P200 to as much as P6,000 or penalties of arresto mayor (one month to six months imprisonment) to prision correctional (six months to six years imprisonment).
Aside from mimics, a person will also face the same penalties if he or she subjects anyone to unnecessary, unjustified, illegal and degrading search because of his manner of clothing, religion, color, creed and ethnic identity.
Discriminating against a person applying for a job just because of his name, religion or ethnic background might also be a ground for imprisonment, Dumarpa said.
The bill also provides that a person wearing a traditional costume, veil or turban should be allowed to enter business establishments such as restaurant, hotel, shopping mall and similar places. They should also be allowed to ride on passenger buses, taxicabs, ships, airplanes.
She said the bill would effectively institutionalize the constitutional guarantee of equal protection and religious freedom to all persons, regardless of their cultural background or chosen religion.
Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya, Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao, and Mujiv Hataman of party-list group Anak Mindanao.
Dumarpa had complained that Muslims have always been the victims of racial profiling or discrimination, which became more prevalent after the 9/11 attacks on the
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