02/11/2026
𝗡𝗖𝗗𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 | 𝗡𝗖𝗗𝗔 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗢𝗧𝗿: 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿; 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆
The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) calls on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to pursue full accountability, including filing appropriate criminal charges against the bus conductor involved in the sexual harassment of a Deaf passenger in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, on November 1, 2026.
NCDA has sent an official letter to DOTr requesting an immediate, impartial investigation and appropriate filling of criminal case against those responsible.
The victim, a Deaf woman, was traveling with her minor daughter to church at about 4:00 a.m. when subjected to inappropriate conduct by the conductor. She shared her account and video footage on Facebook to seek redress.
Grammar Is Not the Measure of Truth
Some criticized the grammar of her written statement. NCDA clarifies that Deaf individuals communicate primarily through Filipino Sign Language, which has its own distinct structure. Differences in written expression reflect linguistic identity, not incapacity. Communication differences must never be used to dismiss, discredit, or mock a survivor. She deserves to be heard, believed, and supported.
Dignity and Safety Are Non‑Negotiable
Persons with disabilities have an equal right to safe, dignified, respectful public transport. Harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on disability, communication difference, or gender are unlawful and unacceptable.
True inclusion in public transport requires mandatory disability awareness, sensitivity, and gender‑responsiveness training for all transport personnel, accessible and confidential disability‑friendly reporting mechanisms onboard and at terminals, staff capacity to communicate respectfully with Deaf and other PWD passengers, and strict enforcement of RA 7277 (Magna Carta for PWDs), RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act), and related laws.
