Lipa City Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto seeks to create a protective measure for the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community who had been victimized by incidents involving discrimination, harassment, prejudice, and violence.
According to a report from InterAksyon.com, the Batangas representative has filed House Bill No. 2952 to create help and protection desks dedicated for the LGBT community in all police stations.
“There is an absence of government mechanism or intervention directed to monitor, let alone address, the incidents of discrimination, prejudice and even violence against Filipino LGBT community,” Congresswoman Santos-Recto said in the bill's explanatory note.
She dadded, “Because of this, many LGBT victims opt not to report the incident for fear of further harassment, prejudicial treatment, or more violent reprisal.”
On top of that, House Bill No. 2952 also seeks to mandate the Philippine National Police to guarantee gender neutrality in all aspects of its human resource processes, including recruitment and selection, and promotion and deployment of police officers.
This bill will amend Republic Act No. 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, which provided women and children with their own dedicated desks in all police stations.