Rep. Perci Cendaña (Akbayan party-list) warned of possible legal action against those who ridicule his facial features, which were affected by a stroke he survived.
The lawmaker on Thursday, August 20, addressed online posts mocking his appearance, saying the attacks have recently become “more personal” and “malicious.”
Cendaña said he has long let such attacks slide, whether online or offline, adding that scrutiny and criticism come with being a public figure.
“Pero may hangganan ang lahat. Kamakailan, mas naging personal at mapanira ang mga pag-atake ng ilang online trolls laban sa akin. Mas nakababahala, ginagamit na nila ang aking medical condition upang ako ay ipahiya at gawing katatawanan,” he said in a statement.
“Ang kapansanan ay hindi katatawanan. Hindi ito dapat gawing sandata upang laitin, hiyain, o i-dehumanize ang isang tao. Hindi tamang salaulain ang dignidad o halaga ng sinumang tao, may kapansanan man o wala,” the lawmaker added.
Cendaña said he would no longer let such acts of disrespect go unchecked, adding that he was also taking a stand for others who may face similar attacks.
“Bilang isang stroke survivor, hindi ko palalampasin ang ganitong pambabastos. I do this not just for myself but for all stroke survivors and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who are subjected to similarly demeaning, degrading and dehumanizing language and attacks,” he stated.
“This serves as a warning to all online pages, influencers, and individuals who have published or amplified these materials. I am consulting with our lawyers on the appropriate legal action that may be taken against those responsible,” the lawmaker said.
Cendaña added that he would continue to welcome “legitimate criticisms and public scrutiny,” but would not tolerate “attacks that cross into harassment, humiliation, and discrimination.”
“I will not remain silent,” he concluded.
The progressive lawmaker has been the subject of numerous malicious online posts, videos, photos and other content on various social media platforms mocking his facial features.
“Rep. Perci is a stroke survivor,” his office said in the comments section.
It added that those who wish to report individuals attacking Cendaña may attach a screenshot and a link to posts in question.
Last year, Sen. Bato dela Rosa mocked Cendaña’s appearance, saying that his face looked “as though it has been punched,” adding that it was why it was “skewed.”
“Come here so I can punch the other side of your face and make it balanced,” the senator, now hiding amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, previously said.
Epilepsy Awareness Philippines called out Dela Rosa, saying his comments were “an insult to the dignity of persons with health conditions.”
“Advocates have long fought for a society built on inclusivity, respect, and equal rights, yet Dela Rosa’s actions undermine this progress by reducing a health condition to a mere punchline,” the group previously said.
A physician said that a stroke can disrupt the motor function of the primary motor cortex, a region in the brain’s frontal lobe, potentially leading to loss of muscle control in various parts of the body, including the face.
“The primary motor cortex in the brain contains a mapped representation of different body parts known as the motor homunculus,” physician Andre Panossian said on a website.
“When a stroke affects the regions corresponding to facial muscles, it can result in facial weakness, partial paralysis, or even complete paralysis. This condition significantly impacts the ability to control facial expressions, smile, blink, or perform other voluntary facial movements,” he added.
