PDP-Laban Senatorial candidate Salvador Panelo on Monday expressed dismay over a legislator’s alleged use of disability slurs to ridicule a political rival.
“I was saddened and pained to hear that my friend, Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, used the words “autistic” and “special child” to mock a political rival,” Panelo said in a statement sent to the media covering Congress.
Panelo, the former chief legal counsel and spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte, was referring to Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte’s first district.
As of press time, Alvarez has yet to issue a comment on the matter.
Panelo said what Alvarez did was “is an affront to all children with special needs, and offensive to the sensibilities of their parents, including myself.”
“Those terms and any term that refers to a child with special needs should only be used in the context of describing how they are angels living among us,” he said.
Panelo’s son, Salvador Carlo III, had Down syndrome and passed away in 2017 due to heart complications.
Among the legislative bills Panelo intends to push in the Senate is one that will require the government to provide for the therapy and special education of children with special needs, and to build care facilities for them when their parents pass away, or incapable of providing them with care.
According to Panelo, these are already underway in Davao City after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio approved an ordinance establishing the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children.
“It’s hard enough as it is to be born with disabilities, and to provide care for them, without enough support from government. Let’s not add discrimination and ridicule to the burdens they have to carry,” Panelo said.
“I hope Congressman Alvarez atones for his mistake by educating himself about the plight of children with special needs and their families, and by joining our advocacy to make the government give them the protection and support they deserve,” he added.