Boy beaten by uncle now being monitored

CEBU, Philippines — The condition of seven-year-old male who was beaten by his uncle in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, is now being closely monitored by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 said Regional Director Shalaine Lucero.

Lucero said yesterday that the video showing the boy being beaten up by his 24-year-old uncle with a bamboo stick shows a clear violation.

“Kay naa baya tay balaod nga nag protect sa mga bata under the child abuse law, kinahanglan dili g’yud nato dapatan or any forms of abuse sa atong mga kabantan-onan,” said Lucero.

Lucero said the boy is now under the care of his maternal grandparents while the suspect was also arrested and will now be charged.

“But what we are looking now is monitoring sa kondisyon sa bata kay naa may mga labhag, so atong gitan-aw ang mga medical interventions,” said Lucero.

As of Monday, the child was already being medically checked as he sustained bruises and an open wound. Lucero said that aside from his physical health, they will monitor the needs of his family including the psychosocial intervention that the DSWD will be providing.

Despite having been handed over to his maternal grandparents, Lucero said the social worker will have to assess their capabilities of guardianship including their emotional state, financial state, and physical state. Should the grandparents be assessed unfit, they have to look for the next of kin.

Lucero explained that the last recourse is institutionalization, something DSWD is ready for.

“I think taas kaayo ang risk sa bata kung ang nag-atiman dili directly iyang ginikanan. Kay pareha ana naay mga gamay nga sipyat, kay ang bata baya moduwa,” said Lucero.

It was said in the police investigation that the suspect was aggravated after the victim pushed his child during playtime.

“But that is not acceptable. That should not be an excuse,” said Lucero, adding that this case should be a warning to the public that such acts will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-7 also said it has not received any report that there are people involved in selling children online.

But Lucero said their social marketing unit always monitors what is on Facebook and they will immediately act on any reports.

"As of today wala pa," she said.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-7, also said that they haven’t monitored anything of this kind. But he urged the public to report any such activity.

"This is violative of at least two laws Republic Act 9208 which is the Human Trafficking Act, violative pud ni obviously of Republic Act 7610 or Child Abuse, naa pay ubang violation ani... This should be a warning to everyone,” he said.

The DSWD-National Authority on Child Care (DSWD-NACC) said some people pretend to adopt children but actually sell them, and that based on their monitoring 20 to 30 Facebook accounts offer to buy and sell children. — (FREEMAN)