Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

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Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173640340143017292367214301729235412444172647904995720211019-covid-parks-alert-level-3-gc-1170.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Children play at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila on October 19, 2021. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a father for three counts of child abuse after subjecting his 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to violent and excessive disciplinary measures.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/06/16/study-most-filipino-children-experience-violence">Study: Most Filipino children experience violence</a></div><p>In the decision of the 2nd Division dated July 22, 2024, the court ruled that for an act to be considered abuse, there must be clear intent to harm a child’s dignity.</p><p>The case stemmed from the actions of the father from 2017 to 2018, including kicking his daughter, pulling her hair, and striking her with a wooden rod with a nail, among others.</p><p>“Given these circumstances, it can be reasonably inferred that his act of laying hands on his children was done with the specific intent to debase, degrade or demean their intrinsic worth and dignity as human beings,” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez.</p><p>The court noted that the father claimed that the actions were meant to discipline his children for misbehavior such as failing to eat their lunch. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/31/23/house-panel-oks-bill-imposing-stiffer-penalties-for-child-abuse-exploitation">House panel OKs bill imposing stiffer penalties for child abuse, exploitation</a></div><p>The father was found guilty by both the Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals for violating Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.</p><p>The Supreme Court found the father’s appeal as a rehash of his arguments already made before the lower courts. </p><p>The SC emphasized that while parents have the right to discipline their children, such measures must not be violent, excessive or disproportionate to their misbehavior.</p><p>“His abusive acts may be considered as extreme measures of punishment not commensurate to the discipline of his 12-year-old and 10-year-old children,” the court said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/27/18/exposing-younger-offenders-to-harsh-justice-system-grave-mistake-unicef">Exposing younger offenders to harsh justice system ‘grave’ mistake: UNICEF</a></div><p>The SC sentenced the father to imprisonment of 4 to 6 years and ordered him to pay a fine of P15,000 and a total of P60,000 as damages for each count of child abuse.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rWzyRV738QA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The SC emphasized that while parents have the right to discipline their children, such measures must not be violent, excessive or disproportionate to their misbehavior.</p>

The SC emphasized that while parents have the right to discipline their children, such measures must not be violent, excessive or disproportionate to their misbehavior.

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SC reminds parents vs violent and excessive discipline

SC reminds parents vs violent and excessive discipline

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 09, 2025 02:36 PM PHT

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SC

Supreme Court

child abuse

punishment

discipline

children

violence

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