Press Release - Sen. Robin Bill on Equal Access for Muslims, IPs in Public Cemeteries Gains Senate Support

Timely and worthy of support.

On this note, Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla's bill allowing equal access for Filipino Muslims and indigenous peoples (IPs) in public cemeteries gained support in the Senate, particularly from Senate minority leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

In his "supportive" interpellation of Padilla's Senate Bill 1273, Pimentel commended Padilla for "having thought of this idea," and for authoring and sponsoring the measure.

"Actually, I think this is a very timely measure, especially that our sponsor has received actual real life experiences na sinasagot ng panukalang batas na ito (that this bill seeks to address)... This is a measure we should support," he said.

Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, filed the bill after learning of real-life experiences where Muslims and IPs still encounter problems in looking for burial grounds for their departed loved ones.

Earlier, he said it is infuriating to learn of recent incidents such as the displacement of 100 remains in a Muslim cemetery in Quezon City and Montalban due to the activities of a nearby quarrying company.

He added many IPs face challenges in following their burial traditions especially in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, since the remains must be transported to their home provinces.

"Ito pong panukalang ito, ito ay ibinunga ng napakaraming malungkot na karanasan ng kapatid nating Muslim at katutubo. Katunayan, may hakbang ang NCIP, sila rin nakausap natin at sila may position na talagang merong discrimination pagdating sa katutubo (This bill stemmed from the sad experiences of our Muslim and IP brethren. Even the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples have a position against the discrimination against IPs on burial grounds)," Padilla said.

Pimentel also suggested improvements to the bill, including incorporating a floor plan for public cemeteries as well as not allowing donors of burial lots to influence the partition of the cemeteries - to which Padilla agreed.

"Katanggap-tanggap ang nais ninyong amendment (Your proposed amendments are very acceptable)," he told Pimentel, who said he will formalize his suggestions