MANILA, Philippines – A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) consular staff was relieved from his post after disrespecting a differently-abled local broadsheet reporter, a DFA official said.
“The consular staff involved has been relieved of his duties. It was a very unfortunate incident indeed involving a media colleague with disabilities. @DFAPHL will make sure this will not happen again,” DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said in a tweet.
Sir, the consular staff involved has been relieved of his duties. It was a very unfortunate incident indeed involving a media colleague with disabilities.@DFAPHL will make sure this will not happen again.
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) March 8, 2019
Cato was referring to Manila Standard reporter Macon Ramos-Araneta, who was questioned and badgered by the errant employee over her polio disability.
“Imagine the medyo bald chubby man telling me they need 2see doriginal of my pwd id 2prove indeed i hav disability. he asked if its polio, when i said yes, he told guard 2check me. d guard approached me so i moved my pants upward 2show my right foot is smaller than my left,” Araneta wrote on Facebook.
Araneta then went to the cashier and shared her terrible experience with the DFA employee.
The cashier apologized on behalf of her colleague.
Later, the reporter approached the DFA staffer and said: “You were doubting if I have polio. u thought I would lie qbout it. Now, look at the way I walk just to prove you that indeed I have polio.”
The DFA employee reportedly replied: “Hindi ko po kasi kita kasi nakaupo ako ron.”
Araneta fumed at the incident saying, the staffer was “stupid” for asking her to prove that she has a disability.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. also apologized after learning of the incident, incident and said he was at a “total loss for words.”
“I am at a total loss for words except that I will seriously consider a proposal for chemical castration to prevent this behavior from being passed on. I am deeply sorry,” Locsin wrote on Twitter. / gsg
@elmer_cato I am at a total loss for words except that I will seriously consider a proposal for chemical castration to prevent this behavior from being passed on. I am deeply sorry. https://t.co/qcwebr6mW4
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) March 8, 2019