IN a hypothetical case, a public-school teacher (classroom adviser of a Grade 6 class) saw a Grade 11 senior high-School (SHS) student throwing stones and hitting one of her Grade 6 students. To protect her student, the teacher immediately approached the Grade 11 student and hit the student at his back and shouted: Mga hayop kamo, para dayo kamo digdi. Iharap mo dito ama mo [You all animals, you are all strangers here. Bring your father here].” The Grade 11 SHS student was brought to the hospital as he suffered some contusions at his back. Is the teacher here guilty of the crime of child abuse as defined under Section 3(b) and in relation to Section 10(a) of Republic Act (RA) 7610, otherwise known as Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act?
My answer should be “no” for child abuse under RA 7610, but arguably “yes” for another crime like slight physical injuries and maltreatment punishable under Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). It may be important to emphasize that my answer here only concerns the possible criminal liability of the public-school teacher in this hypothetical case (and not her possible administrative liability, if any, under the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy).
The distinction is very critical as the crime of child abuse defined under Section 3(b) of RA 7610 is punishable with imprisonment of six years and one day to eight years (of prison mayor in its minimum period), while slight physical injuries and maltreatment under the RPC is only punishable with arresto menor which ranges from one day to 30 days of imprisonment only.
The jurisprudence applicable to this hypothetical case is the case of George Bongalon v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 169533, March 20, 2013, where it was ruled that “[n]ot every instance of the laying of hands on a child constitutes the crime of child abuse under Section 10 (a) of RA 7610. Only when the laying of hands is shown beyond reasonable doubt to be intended by the accused to debase, degrade or demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being should it be punished as child abuse. Otherwise, it is punished under the RPC.”
The petitioner (Bongalon) in this Supreme Court (SC) case was found guilty by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for violation of RA 7610 for committing “child abuse” against minor Jayson de la Cruz. The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the findings of the RTC but modified the penalty imposed. Petitioner requested the SC to reverse the findings of the RTC and the CA with this petition.
The relevant facts and decision of this 2013 Bongalon case, which is directly (or substantially) quoted or paraphrased from the SC decision, penned by Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin are as follows: On June 26, 2000, the Prosecutor’s Office of Legazpi City charged Bongalon in the RTC in Legazpi City with child abuse under Section 10(a) of RA 7610, alleging that “on or about the 11th day of May 2000, in the City of Legazpi, Philippines, Bongalon commit on the person of Jayson de la Cruz, a 12-year-old, Grade 6 pupil of MABA Institute, Legazpi City, acts of physical abuse and/or maltreatment by striking said Jayson de la Cruz with his palm, hitting the latter at his back and by slapping said minor hitting his left cheek and uttering derogatory remarks to the latter’s family to wit: “Mga hayop kamo, para dayo kamo digdi. Iharap mo dito ama mo [You all animals, you are all strangers here. Bring
your father here],” which acts of the accused are prejudicial to the child’s development and which demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of the said child as a human being.”
This column should not be taken as a legal advice applicable to any case, as each case is unique and should be construed in light of the attending circumstances surrounding such particular case.
Lawyer Toni Umali is the current assistant secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Education (DepEd). He is licensed to practice law not only in the Philippines, but also in the state of California and some federal courts in the US after passing the California State Bar Examinations in 2004. He has served as a legal consultant to several legislators and local chief executives. As education assistant secretary, he was instrumental in the passage of the K to 12 law and the issuance of its implementing rules and regulations. He is also the alternate spokesman of the DepEd. To be continued
5 comments
Hello po Atty.! Thanks for sharing this informative article. My Dad in Cavite recently assaulted (has a mild bruise on his face) a 9-year-old boy. He’s having a nap then bigla sya nakarinig ng malakas na ingay ng bola na tumama sa bubong ng patio. My Dad was startled and upset and throw the water pale out of frustration (not to the kid). The boy laughed then that triggers his anger and punched the kid. A neighbour saw the incident and fast forward he was jailed for 3 days sa presinto and now out on bail. He was told to wait for subpoena in a month.
I get it, the child was hurt I have kids too. But I also can’t imagine something like this can put an old man (taking meds for hypertension and diabetes) in jail! I’m in Canada and this is very frustrating to say the least. I am now concerned na baka hindi na ma renew visa nya to visit here because of this.
Anyways, keep writing articles Atty! Kudos to you and to businessmirror.
Hello po Atty, may tanong lang po sana ako. Last April 2019, nag migrate ang anak ko at ang daddy nya (my ex-bf) sa US. Later on na realize ko na sinasaktan nya ang anak ko dahil na rin sa pagsusumbong ng anak ko at one time din habang nag video call kame, tinawag nya ang anak ko at sa background narinig ko na sumisigaw ang anak ko at napaiyak. Nakwento na lang ng anak ko after that na hindi daw sya naka pag ligpit ng higaan kya sinaktan sya ng dad nya. Nagwala na ako sa phone at nag demand ako sa lola ng anak ko na kasama din nila sa bahay na iuwi na sa Pinas ang anak ko. This December napauwi na sa wakas ang anak ko, they gave me reasons na kesyo daw may bagsak na grades sa school at hindi daw pupwede yun dun. Later on ang anak ko nagkekwento na ng mga ginawang pang aabuso ng dad nya. To the point na sinuntok na pala sya sa mukha. May police/ child services na rin daw na pumasyal sa bahay nila dahil ang Sunday school na inaatendan ng anak ko, nakahalata ata na may pang aabuso sa bata dahil sa sugat sa mukha. Sabi ng anak ko sabihin sa pulis na nalaglag lang sya sa kama. Tinatakot pa nya ang anak ko na pag nagsumbong sya sa amin eh bubugbugin sya. Wala akong evidence ng any injury nya, statement lang ng anak ko kung sakali, at nangyari lahat ng yun sa US, any chance na makasuhan ko ang tatay ng bata ng Child Abuse? Sa Pilipinas or US? Sana po ay ma advise nyo ako. Thank you.
hi po atty. ask ko lng po if tama po ba na i detained ang isang tao ng 16hrs ng dahil po sa sumbong ng bata na napalo sya ng tsinelas?at pagdating sa prisinto wala nmn pong pnakitang medical? ang kung sakaling ppasok yun sa child abuse, ano pong classification of offense yun?tnx po
hello po atty..may tanong lang po,july 16 ng hapon naglalaro anak ko 7yrs old noong pinubtahan ko nakita ko binato ngbanak ko ang stinilas nya ngayong binayo balik ng batang 6yrs old din napasigaw ako bakit binato sabay dampot ko ang tsinilas at ang batang 6yrs old sabay tumakbo sa kabilang kanto nakita ko ang ate ng bata parating nagtutiro kaya nilapitan ko ang ate na 13yrs old noong pinagsabihan ko minura ako kaya nilapitan ko lalo kako ano puta ako saan ako namuta b8gla nanlng akong sinuntok sa sikmora ko at hinampashampas maya2 d7matingbnanay ng bata at sinuntok ako sa batok maram8ng nakakita pero ninaliktad ang istorya sinabunutan kodaw at sinakal….ako pa kinasuhan ng physical abuse..ang witness nila na vice president ng asosasyon nagsalaysay ng inabutan nya daw ako na sinigawan at minura ang bata,s8nabunutan at sinakal samantalang kitangkita nya na ako ang sinaktan,noong pinagharap kami ng asosasyon at barangay pinagalitan ang nanay sa paratang nila dahil anak nanam nila at ang nanay ang nanakit sa akin..pero diniresto nila sa court ni di man lang nila ako pinatawag sa vawc,..
Hello po Atty. May tanong po ako nitong feb 26 2021 nabangga po ng bike yung anak ko na 4 yrs old. Bale ang nakabangga po sa anak ko is 12 yrs old na po. Pumutok po yung ulo ng anak ko dahil sa lakas ng pagkakabangga ngayon po nakita ng mister ko yung pangyayari sa sobrang gulat po niya natabig niya po ng paa niya sa hita yung batang nakasagasa sa anak namin dahil nakaharang po yung bata sa anak namin di niya po mabuhat yung anak namin , ngayon po kinasuhan nila ng child abuse ang mister ko ano po kaya ang maaaring harapin ng asawa ko