Commission on Human Rights probes child abuse in viral video

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Calabarzon is conducting an investigation into a video that has gone viral showing a man beating up his son.

Rexford Guevarra, CHR-Calabarzon director, said they wanted to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice and the victim is provided with appropriate assistance, including psychosocial treatment.

“The CHR condemns the reprehensible acts committed by a father on his own child,” Guevarra said.

The video shows the man hitting the boy, who was tied upside down from the window of their house. The man reportedly took the video to force his partner and mother of the child to come home.

Guevarra said no child deserves such treatment from anyone, especially from the parents.

The man was arrested on Wednesday and faces charges for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law.

The boy is under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.      

The DSWD’s Community Programs and Services Bureau said it coordinated with the DSWD office in Sta. Rosa to assist the boy.

”We have tasked our field office in Calabarzon to facilitate the immediate referral of the child to an accredited child-caring agency or placement for foster care to properly address his needs,” DSWD spokesperson and assistant secretary Glenda Relova said.

‘Don’t share video’

Relova appealed to the public to stop sharing the video on social media.

”To concerned citizens who want to to report a case of child abuse, please coordinate directly with us by sending private messages to our Facebook and Twitter accounts... You may also report to other government agencies, including the CHR, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation,” she said.

The video has more than two million views and 250,000 shares on Facebook and Youtube. – Rainier Allan Ronda