An artist behind a Facebook page has publicly apologized after posting a caricature of Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña that critics said ridiculed the effects of his stroke, prompting the lawmaker to consult lawyers over possible legal action.
The drawing, published by the page Richard Art, depicted Cendaña with an exaggerated, distorted mouth. The lawmaker survived a stroke that affected his facial features, and the image circulated online before being taken down.
In a statement posted August 20, Cendaña said he had tolerated personal attacks for years as part of public life but that the recent posts had crossed a line. He drew a distinction between political satire, which he accepts, and mocking a person’s disability. “I do this not just for myself but for all stroke survivors and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who are subjected to similarly demeaning, degrading and dehumanizing language and attacks,” he said, warning online pages, influencers, and individuals who published or amplified the material that he is weighing appropriate legal action.
Akbayan invoked Republic Act 7277, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which protects PWDs from vilification, ridicule, and discrimination. The party-list group said the issue extended beyond Cendaña to every person with a disability who has been mocked because of how they look or the condition they live with. Responding to the artist’s stated lack of intent, Akbayan wrote that it had taken serious note of the incident, questioning how the drawing could be dismissed as an accident.
The artist behind Richard Art issued an apology in Filipino, saying he did not intend to hurt anyone or make fun of any person’s condition, acknowledging he had failed to consider the effects of the post. He apologized to Cendaña, the lawmaker’s family, and everyone offended, said he had removed the post, and pledged to be more careful and responsible with his future work.
The controversy echoes a February 2025 incident in which Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa mocked Cendaña’s facial appearance, drawing condemnation from health and medical advocates before the senator issued a public apology. Cendaña, elected to the House with Akbayan in the 2025 elections, has said he will continue to welcome legitimate criticism and public scrutiny while refusing to tolerate attacks that amount to harassment, humiliation, and discrimination tied to his medical condition.
