Edge Davao 6 Issue 16

Page 1

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL. 6 ISSUE 16 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 7-8, 2013 www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

G

race Sarion woke up one September morning last year to take on the fight of her life. eight months of fighting for her right against discrimination came tantalizingly close to triumph for the born deaf mute city government employee reportedly refused by a mall establishment from doing her assignment as movie checker because of her physical condition. On Friday, Sarion realized breaking her silence could only lead her to more trouble. Just that, Grace dropped the charges in a wink of an eye. Sarion’s 8-month saga which began on august 30, 2012 with the filing of her complaint with the city prosecutor’s office ended abruptly a day after the two mall officials posted bail on charges of violating republic act 7277 or the Magna carta for Persons with Disability. On april 1, criminal charges were formally filed before the Municipal Trial court (MTc) against the Gaisano mall executives Jessica canasa and Joe choaShi who rejected Sarion as cinema ticket checker for being deaf-mute. The filing of the said charges raised hopes for the physically challenged, according to the association of Differently able Persons (aDaP). It came at a time President aquino is set to sign a bill promoting equal employment opportunities for persons with disability. Sarion instantly became the ‘voice’ of the deaf mute and others with physical handicap. However, the case was dismissed after she accepted an amicable settlement offered by the respondents in the amount of P6,000. aDaP president redondo Martinez expressed disappointment while reading the copy of the acknowledgement receipt of the amount agreed upon in the settlement to dismiss the case. Sarion executed an affidavit of desistance dated april 4, 2013 assisted by lawyer richard Patriarca and Teogenes

FTHE SILENCE, 11

By EJ Dominic Fernandez


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