Pia Wurtzbach slams PDEA for revealing drug suspect’s HIV status

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach took to social media to stand up against the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and media outlet’s action to disclose the HIV status of a drug suspect after being nabbed in a raid at a hotel in Taguig.

The beauty queen, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said it was unnecessary to bare the identities of the men and publicly shame them.

“PDEA and local news outlets decided to expose the identities of these men to the media. Their mugshots, names, and the HIV status of one of them were released. Was this really necessary,” Wurtzbach wrote in her Instagram post.

“What has been done has not only traumatized the men that were involved; it has also worsened the HIV situation in the Philippines,” she added.

Wurtzbach cited Republic Act 8504, saying that it’s “illegal to publicly announce once’s HIV status.”

Under this act, a person’s HIV status is confidential except in specific medical situations and if subject to a subpoena from a court. Those who violate this may be penalized with a penalty of imprisonment for six months to four years as well as fines.

Universe, listen to this. A few days ago a drug bust happened in a high scale hotel in Manila Philippines involving 11 supposedly gay men. Two of them were suspected of selling/distributing drugs. During the operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) found out that one of of them was HIV positive. PDEA and local news outlets decided to expose the identities of these men to the media. Their mugshots, names, and the HIV status of one of them were released. Was this really necessary? I understand that what the men were supposedly doing was illegal and they should face legal consequences. But there was absolutely no need to expose and publicly shame them. It’s illegal to publicly announce one’s HIV status (RA8504). What has been done has not only traumatized the men that were involved; it has also worsened the HIV situation in the Philippines. We’re working so hard in educating the people properly on HIV/AIDS, on taking away the stigma. Because of what PDEA and the news outlet have done, some people are now associating drugs and immorality with being gay. It’s ridiculous. The whole point of this drug raid was to arrest the men for their supposed crime, which was selling/distributing and using illegal narcotics. Being gay is not a crime! Living with HIV is not a punishment! Come on, Philippines. We are already taking small steps forward to improve acceptance, tolerance and understanding. We cannot take big steps back. To PDEA and the news outlets, take steps to mend the situation. Sa aking mga kababayan, wag po tayo maging judgmental. Hindi immoral ang maging bakla, hindi dapat ituring na kaparusahan ang HIV. At lalong hindi ito biro na dapat pag-pyestahan at pagtawanan. To my beloved LGBT community, stay strong. We’ll win this.

A post shared by Pia Wurtzbach | Miss Universe (@piawurtzbach) on Nov 28, 2017 at 5:31pm PST

Meanwhile, after receiving the same sentiments from lawmakers, PDEA on Wednesday apologized to the public for violating the suspect’s right to privacy.

“PDEA has expressed regret in the inadvertent mention during a recent press conference that one of the suspects, though his identity was withheld, is infected with HIV.

“We may have gone overboard by violating his right to privacy,” said PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino in a statement.