Blogger Drew Olivar doing a parody of sign language in a viral video with Asec. Mocha Uson | Image grabbed from Mocha Uson Blog FB
(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines – Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and her blogger-friend Drew Olivar have stirred another controversy.
This time the two were seen doing a parody on sign language.
Olivar posted a video of him mimicking a deaf person, and doing a sign language version of his controversial ‘ipederalismo’ dance.
He even mimicked how deaf people sound when they try hard to talk.
In the video, Uson can be heard laughing in the background, seemingly in approval of Olivar’s actions.
As expected, the video which Uson posted on her Facebook blog on September 14, 2018, had gone viral and earned heavy backlash on social media and advocates of the deaf community.
Senator Nancy Binay, in a statement, said: “It is disrespectful to the sizeable deaf/mute community who already struggle in airing their concerns and aspirations.”
The author and co-sponsor of the Filipino Sign Language Bill added: ”Such discriminatory actions set back our efforts to make our society more inclusive by providing a more conducive environment for deaf Filipinos to exercise their right to expression without prejudice.”
She reminded Uson of her role as public servant and that she should “refrain from mocking the people she serves.” She also warned everyone, including Uson, that “making fun of persons with disabilities is in violation of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (Republic Act (RA) 9442).”
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in a statement, meanwhile, urged the government to penalize Uson and Olivar citing RA 9442 “which penalizes verbal, non-verbal ridicule and vilification against persons with disability.”
“We call on the government to take action against Mr. Olivar and Asec. Uson, and impose the appropriate penalties as provided by law,” the school’s President Dennis Magbanua added in the statement.
On September 17, Olivar apologized for the controversial video on Facebook Live.
“Kung tanggapin man po ninyo o hindi, iyong sorry ko, sorry pa rin po ako nang sorry, kasi hindi nga po tama ang ginawa ko. Sa mga nasaktan ko, sa (deaf) community, I hope nararamdaman nyo po ang nasa puso ko. Taos puso po akong humihingi ng tawad sa inyong lahat,” he said in his 18-minute video with a promise to control his actions in the future.
Uson followed with her public apology as well.
“Humingi na po ng paumanhin si Andrew Olivar sa kanyang pagsa-sign language ng pabiro. Gayunpaman, I take full responsibility sa ginawa ng aking radio show partner at kaibigan. Kaya po sa ating mga kapatid sa deaf community, nawa’s tanggapin nyo po ang aking sorry. Please forgive me,” Mocha said in a 30-second video on her personal blog while gesturing her apology.
Meanwhile, the Persons With Disability (PWD) Philippines on its Facebook page on Monday (September 17) posted their acceptance of Olivar’s apology to “put the matter to rest.”
On the other hand, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf has filed a complaint against Uson and Olivar over the sign language video. — Marje Pelayo
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