Group hits DOH chief for 'homophobic' remarks

MANILA, Philippines - Groups advocating equal rights for gays, lesbians, and transsexuals criticized Health Secretary Enrique Ona for his “homophobic remarks” that they believe will prevent homosexuals from participating in programs against HIV/AIDS.

In a statement, Marlon Lacsamana, founder of the Philippines LGBT Hate Crime Watch, said Ona should resign from his post because he is “undoing decades of evidence-based prevention practices that aim to encourage homosexuals and transgenders to voluntarily seek testing, counseling, and treatment.”

Last Friday, when Ona was presiding over a plenary meeting of the multi-agency Philippine National AIDS Council, he allegedly suggested that parents should compel their homosexual children to be tested for HIV/AIDS. 

Ona said, however, that his comments were taken out of context. 

“I was merely emphasizing that we need to involve the family in combating the spread of HIV. Families should also be empowered to provide information and to give advice to their children,” he said. “After all, we really need to think outside of the box given the looming threat of HIV/AIDS.”

Ona said that while the HIV prevalence in the country remains at less than 0.1 percent of the population, the number of cases increase every month.

“This is the reason why we are directing the interventions to population groups where transmission of the virus has been high. This includes men having sex with men, female sex workers, and injecting drug users,” he said.

Oscar Atadero, human rights officer of the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines, also believes Ona’s remarks will make homosexuals hesitant to get tested.        

“It feels like gays, bisexuals and transgender (are) being given a marching order to file into gas ovens in Europe during the time of Hitler,” he said.