The Philippine Civil and Political Rights (CPR)
National Situation during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Discrimination during the COVID-19 Pandemic
175
Historically, public health emergencies result to stigma and discrimination of specific
communities, population and groups that undermine people’s full enjoyment of their
human rights. Among the reported incidents of discrimination and stigma are as follows:
176
Residents of an entire barangay, where there was a suspected death of an elderly woman
from COVID-19, were barred from entering a supermarket in Magalang, Pampanga.240
177
A doctor in Cavite taking care of COVID-19 patients who contracted the disease was
harassed. Out of fear that other people might get infected, officials from their barangay and
homeowner’s association told her and her family that they will not be allowed to go outside
their own house.241
178
Some healthcare providers in Tacloban who sought to rent a place failed to secure property
due to objections from adjacent occupants because they work at a hospital. It was believed
that since they work at a hospital where COVID-19 suspects are being examined and
treated.242
240
Jun A. Malig & Tina Ganzon-Ozaeta. “‘Bodies wrapped in plastic bags’: Coronavirus panic spreads across provinces,”
Rappler, 26 April 2020, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/259064-dead-body-wrapped-plasticbagcoronavirus-panic-spreads-provinces, accessed 11 May 2020.
241
Mara Cepeda. “Cavite doctor won’t stop treating COVID-19 patients,” Rappler, 8 April 2020, available at https://
www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/257348-frontliners-series-after-being-infected-losing-loved-one-cavitedoctorstill-treat-coronavirus-patients, accessed 11 May 2020.
242
HR Region VIII, Advisory on the Protection of Frontline Health Workers, Uniformed Personnel, and other Service
Providers against Discrimination, para. 1, citing “Bombo Radyo Tacloban Facebook on 15 Apr. 2020.”