NBI urged to probe online attacks vs PWDs

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a thorough investigation on online posts that harassed Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The lawmaker, who has been subjected to his own share of attacks, expressed that bullying and discrimination of disabled persons was a widescale issue and had to be addressed particularly in the digital landscape.

“This is not simply about the attacks against me. In the end, this is about how we treat persons with disabilities. No space or platform, online or offline, should ever be a venue to mock, humiliate, and dehumanize PWDs,” Cendaña said.

Doubling down on the importance of government action on the issue, the Akbayan representative said that it was the role of the NBI to “send a clear message” that “dehumanizing” and joking about disabilities would not be tolerated.

“No person, especially PWDs, should be made to endure constant humiliation online simply because people think there are no consequences for attacking them,” he stated.

Cendaña along with members of PWD advocates filed a complaint at the NBI Tuesday against 30 online accounts that they flagged for violation of provisions under the Magna Carta of Disabled Persons and the Safe Spaces Act.

The complaint detailed how the accounts posted content that publicly ridiculed PWDs while also targeting him with gender-based online sexual harassment.

The notable accounts that the lawmaker flagged were Cho Moreno, MP Miko Pogay, and Kiffy Chu, urging the investigative agency to uncover the personalities behind the accounts in order to subject them to possible repercussions in accordance with the law.

“It is easy to insult from behind the screen. But social media is not a consequence-free zone. When a platform is used to humiliate, insult, and to dehumanize a PWD, there should be accountability,” he explained.

Prior to the filing, Cendaña had expressed that he had enough of people mocking him for his physical appearance, asserting that while scrutiny was only acceptable if it was directed at how he stood when it came to political arguments.

As a stroke survivor, the lawmaker mentioned that he would not “remain silent” on individuals that were publishing materials that contained discriminatory remarks against him or other PWDs.

“I will continue to welcome legitimate criticism and public scrutiny. But attacks that cross into harassment, humiliation, and discrimination will be dealt with accordingly,” he stressed.

Cendaña first entered public office in 2024 under Akbayan Partylist and was subsequently re-elected for a new term during the 2025 national elections.