Deaf man prevented from boarding plane to Qatar

MANILA, Philippines – A deaf person will file a discrimination case before the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) after an airport immigration officer prevented him from boarding his flight to Qatar.

Through an interpreter, Franklin Corpuz said he was supposed to leave for Qatar on Monday after he was invited to train for a week as a chef in the said country. If the company likes him, he could be hired as a chef.

However, Corpuz said he was held by an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Through interpreter Jojo Esposa, Corpuz told Bandila, “Siguro deaf ako or what or hindi ko maintindihan yung pinaguusapan nila. Sana ipinaliwanag nila sa akin ng maayos”.

Corpuz said he talked to an immigration officer by way of writing. He, however, failed to understand some questions and was sent home.

Esposo said it is common in the Philippines for persons with disabilities to have a hard time communicating with others, and being discriminated upon due to lack of awareness by the general public.

“Yung progressive countries like US and Japan, hindi siya issue,” he said.

In a phone interview Atty. Arvin Santos, acting chief of the Immigration Airport Operations Division, said they are now investigating the incident. They are also looking for the immigration officer who talked to Corpuz.

“Para talagang malaman kung anong nangyari, and if there’s really a ground para ma-sanction yang aming officer, then we really support that,” Santos said.

Santos said the result of the investigation will be released on Wednesday. Timi Nubla, ABS-CBN News and Bandila