A grandfather seeking to protect his grandchildren from their negligent biological father received help from Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano during the fourth episode of the Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda (CIA with BA).
The public service program’s Case 2 Face segment last Sunday, February 26, tackled the complaint of a senior citizen who had taken it upon himself to “rescue” his grandchildren from their alcoholic and drug-addicted father – the common-law husband of his daughter who has herself been institutionalized for drug abuse.
The grandfather has since been preventing the father from visiting his grandchildren, afraid he would sell them as he had allegedly done to another child he had with a different woman.
The senator-siblings unanimously took the grandfather’s side, stressing how dangerous and “bad of an influence” the father currently is to the children.
“Kung ako ang huwes, wala kang karapatan sa mga anak mo,” Senator Pia told the children’s father.
According to Senator Alan, the grandfather has an equal right to exercise parental authority over the children on the basis of blood relationship and is therefore allowed to prevent the negligent parent from getting anywhere near the children.
“Pakiramdam ng [biyenan mo] hindi safe ang mga anak mo kapag dumadalaw ka doon… Ang batas ay nasa panig niya (grandfather),” he told the children’s father.
“Ayusin mo muna ang buhay mo bago mo puntahan ang mga anak mo. Ipakita mo muna sa [biyenan mo] na nabago mo na ang buhay mo,” he added.
Senator Alan also told the father that if he insists on taking his children, “kidnapping y’un kahit ikaw ang tatay.”
He instead urged the father to change for the better so he can be reunited with his children, offering to help him find a job on the condition he would quit drinking alcohol and taking illegal drugs completely.
The father eagerly accepted the offer, saying he has been doing construction work ever since he decided to slowly quit using illegal drugs.
’Best interest of the child’
In the ‘Payong Kapatid’ segment of the show, the senator-siblings shed light on the case of a couple who were forced to give up their adoptive child after being allegedly harassed by members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and some representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The child, who is now 13 years old, had been under the care of the couple since birth.
“Ang masusunod parati sa batas patungkol sa custody at parental authority ay y’ung sinasabing best interest of the child, na hindi siya ma-trauma at siguraduhing kung nasaan siya ay y’un ang pinakamaganda para sa kanyang kalagayan,” Senator Alan said.
The Cayetanos vowed to help the couple request a formal investigation to find out the facts and protect the child from further trauma.
“First step, we call the DSWD and strongly request them to send a team para tingnan kung kumusta [ang bata] at for them to look at your side kung ano ang nangyari,” Senator Alan told the couple.
“From there, magiging mas malinaw kung ano ang karapatan niyo at ano ang pinakamagandang mangyari sa sitwasyon na ‘to,” he continued.
Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda takes inspiration from sibling senators’ late father Senator Rene Cayetano’s radio and television program “Compañero y Compañera” which aired from 1997 to 2001.
Continuing Senator Rene’s legacy, Senators Alan Peter and Pia now address the people’s need for information and guidance regarding Philippine laws and how to apply them in real life situations.
CIA with BA, co-hosted by the country’s King of Talk Boy Abunda, airs every Sunday, 11:30 p.m. on GMA 7, with replays every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on GTV. For updates, visit @cayetanoinactionwithboyabunda on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.
