• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Formal charges have been filed against a barker after he was caught on video repeatedly beating his six-year-old daughter with a piece of wood at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Tuesday.
The suspect, a resident of Barangay 16, is currently detained at Bacolod Police Station 1, and will be facing charges for violating Section 10 of the Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya criticized the father’s defense that he lost his temper after spending the entire day looking for the child.
“Regardless of how hard he looked for her, that is never a reason to hurt a child, hit her with wood on the shoulder and head, leaving her covered in bruises. Anyone who sees what the child went through will feel anger. No matter how stubborn a child is, it will never be a reason to inflict harm,” Gasataya said.
The victim has been rescued and placed under the protective care of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) – Bacolod.
Bacolod City Police Office Director PCol. Eugene Rebadomia suspected that it is not the first time that the child has been abused, as there are visible old scars.
Reports said the suspect would physically abuse the child whenever the money brought back from begging is insufficient.
In light of the incident, Bacolod Councilor Celia Matea Flor, chair of the committee on Women, Gender, and Family, and Child Care, emphasized a policy of zero tolerance against any form of abuse.
She urged the public to take the initiative and intervene or report individuals who abuse women and children.
Gasataya also called on residents to immediately report similar emergencies through the city’s Support and Action for Families in Emergency hotline at 0909-640-7382 (Talk ‘N Text) and 0926-751-4615 (Globe).*
