Pananakit sa bata, basehan ng kasong Child Abuse

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Pebrero 16, 2023

Dear Chief Acosta,

Umiiyak at may bukol sa noo nang umuwi ang aking 10-anyos na anak. Nang tanungin ko siya, nagsumbong siya na habang naglalaro sa labas ay mayroong bata na ka-barangay namin na pinagbabato silang magkaibigan. Nang marinig ko ito, agad akong lumabas ng bahay para kausapin at pagsabihan ang nasabing bata. Ngunit, dala na rin ng aking emosyon, napalo ko ang mga kamay at likod ng bata. Nagsumbong ito sa kanyang ina at sinugod kami. Nagbanta siya na kakasuhan ako ng child abuse.

Makatwiran ba ang gagawin ng ina ng bata? –Nelia

Dear Nelia,

Ang iyong katanungan ay nasagot ng Kagalang-galang na Korte Suprema sa kasong George Bongalon vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 169533, 20 Marso 2013, sa panulat ni Kagalang-galang na dating Chief Justice at ngayon ay Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, kung saan pinasiyahan ang mga sumusunod:

“Child abuse, the crime charged, is defined by Section 3 (b) of Republic Act No. 7610, as follows:

Section 3. Definition of terms.

(b) ‘Child Abuse’ refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which includes any of the following:

(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being;

(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; or

(4) Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and development or in his permanent incapacity or death.

Although we affirm the factual findings of fact by the RTC and the CA to the effect that the petitioner struck Jayson at the back with his hand and slapped Jayson on the face, we disagree with their holding that his acts constituted child abuse within the purview of the above-quoted provisions. The records did not establish beyond reasonable doubt that his laying of hands on Jayson had been intended to debase the "intrinsic worth and dignity" of Jayson as a human being, or that he had thereby intended to humiliate or embarrass Jayson.

The records showed the laying of hands on Jayson to have been done at the spur of the moment and in anger, indicative of his being then overwhelmed by his fatherly concern for the personal safety of his own minor daughters who had just suffered harm at the hands of Jayson and Roldan. With the loss of his self-control, he lacked that specific intent to debase, degrade or demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being that was so essential in the crime of child abuse.

It is not trite to remind that under the well-recognized doctrine of pro reo every doubt is resolved in favor of the petitioner as the accused. Thus, the Court should consider all possible circumstances in his favor.

What crime, then, did the petitioner commit?

Considering that Jayson’s physical injury required five to seven days of medical attention, the petitioner was liable for slight physical injuries under Article 266 (1) of the Revised Penal Code.”

Batay sa nasabing kaso, hindi lahat ng pagkakataon ng pagbubuhat ng kamay sa isang bata ay maituturing na krimen na pang-aabuso sa bata sa ilalim ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7610, o “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”. Mayroon lamang child abuse kung ang pagbubuhat ng kamay sa bata ay maipakikitang may layunin na pababain ang kanyang halaga at dignidad bilang isang tao.

Samakatwid, sa iyong sitwasyon, kailangang mapatunayan ng nag-aakusa na ang pagpalo mo sa bata ay may intensyon na pababain ang kanyang halaga at dignidad bilang tao para masabing may pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng R.A. No. 7610. Ayon sa nasabing kaso, ang pagbubuhat ng kamay sa bata na ginawa nang biglaan at dala lamang ng galit dahil nasaktan ang kanyang anak ay nagpapahiwatig ng pag-aalala bilang magulang.

Dahil dito, maaaring sabihin na wala kang tiyak na layunin na ipahiya o pababain ang halaga ng batang iyong nasaktan. Gayunman, maaari ka pa ring managot sa ibang krimen sa ilalim ng Revised Penal Code.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.