BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance penalizing parents, adopters, guardians, or persons exercising special or substitute parental authority from allowing their children or children under their parental care to be engaged in begging and prostitution and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. defined a child to be a person below 18 years old, including those within this age category who are unable to fully take care of themselves because of physical, mental handicap or condition.
Under the proposed ordinance, the punishable acts committed by such persons described thereat, whether the intent is to give pecuniary benefit to the child, harness him or her for family sustenance, or simply let the child fend for himself or herself, shall be deemed punishable and subject to the penalties prescribed for the said offenses.
The punishable acts include treating a child with excessive harshness; giving the child corrupt orders, coercing, intimidating, or forcing the child to beg or engage in prostitution.
Violators of the provisions of the ordinance shall include a penalty of aristo mayor to be imposed upon subject persons if a child under their care is found to be begging or engaging in prostitution; a penalty of person correctional if they use, coerce, intimidate, or force their children to beg or engage in prostitution, and a penalty of at least one degree higher than what is imposed on the violators if the child is below 12 years of age, at the discretion of the court.
Yangot revealed a minor found to be a victim of the act committed under the provisions of the ordinance shall be entrusted to the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), provided that, they are not found to be abetting the parents’ neglect.
The local legislative measure will task the CSWDO, all city officials and employees, barangay officials, and the police to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the ordinance.
Yangot added the prevention and special protection against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination is expressly avowed in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child, Philippine Constitution, Local Government Code of the Philippines, Civil Code of the Philippines and other civil laws, thus, underscoring the obligation of the State to protect children.
However, he noted that among the sticking points to this are parents who negate their legal and moral parental obligations by allowing their children to beg and freely roam the streets presumably to help meet family needs or augment family income leading to permanent damage to the development of the child.
He reiterated that there is no place for the parental excuse of allowing the children to beg and engage in prostitution as a means to provide a decent food for the table.
By Dexter A. See
