The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill criminalizing discriminatory acts against a person on account of his/her religion, ethnic origin and race.

House Bill 948, or the "Anti-Religious or Racial Profiling Act of 2009," prohibits the use in print and broadcast media of racial, ethnic or indigenous characterization which subjects such race, religion, ethnic or indigenous group to humiliation, fear, anxiety, resentment and cynicism.

Lanao del Sur province Rep. Faysah RPM Dumarpa, author of the bill, said alleged suspects of offenses are often identified through their religious affiliation or racial or ethnic origins, posing them as major threats to national tranquility.

"In news reports, reporters often use religious characterization when geographical, political, socio-economic or other distinctions might be more accurate. For instance, terrorists are identified through their religious affiliations with the use of the words Islamic terrorists or Muslim extremists or Muslim criminal," he said.

Dumarpa said the bill also prohibits the act of subjecting an individual or group to unnecessary, unjustified and degrading inspection or searches, and the act of subjecting them to discrimination in public transport on account of race, religious affiliation, ethnicity or indigenous origin.

"To deprive an individual or group of the opportunity for employment or professional advancement by reason of race, religious affiliation, ethnic or indigenous background also constitutes religious and racial profiling," he said.

The bill also penalizes the act of singling out an individual or group for routine or spontaneous investigatory activity based solely on race, religious affiliation, ethnicity or indigenous origin.

Violators face imprisonment and a fine of not more than P6,000 or both.

Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Solomon Chungalao (Ifugao province), Carlos Padilla (Nueva Vizcaya province), Guillermo Romarate Jr. (2nd District, Surigao del Norte province), Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna party-list), Manuel Agyao (Kalinga province), Mujiv Hataman (Anak Mindanao party-list), Emmanuel Villanueva (Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption party-list), Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong City), Del de Guzman (2nd District, Marikina City), Victor Agbayani (2nd District, Pangasinan province), Rene Velarde (Buhay party-list), and Roman Romulo (Pasig City).