Saturday, September 24, 2005
Social worker denies hurting center’s kids
Social worker Frances Abangan can accept the fact that she has lost her job, but she cannot take being found liable for maltreating children in the Operation Second Chance Center.
Abangan, a mother of four, said she would not mind looking for other ways to feed her family, but to be sacked for an infraction she did not commit is too hard to bear.
At present, her brother-in-law is the one supporting the family, since her husband was also asked to go on forced leave by the company he works.
Regional Trial Court Judge Olegario Sarmiento Jr., who serves as Operation Second Chance’s managing director, found Abangan and another social worker, Emy Sta. Cruz, liable for maltreatment and abuse.
Kids’ complaint
That, after five children complained of being made to kneel, slapped, and mentally and physically abused.
Prior to their dismissal from work, both Abangan and Sta. Cruz were the remaining pioneer social workers in the minors’ detention center in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.
Sarmiento recommended their transfer, but Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered their dismissal.
In fact, Abangan told Sun.Star Cebu that she received her termination letter last Sept. 14. The letter was dated Sept. 8.
“I’m not going back there. Although it’s painful, at least I can now have more time to take care of my family. At least, I am happy now,” Abangan said.
Set up?
In an interview yesterday , Abangan said she suspects the center’s jail guards prodded the children to make stories against her, because she claims she knows about the guards’ wrongdoings.
“One of those children who complained even told me that she did it because she was given delicious food, but I can understand the child. The real story is that I saw how the jail guards siphon off the gasoline and rice allowance of the center.
I will not name names, but I know they wanted me out of the center. It is unfair that I was accused of maltreating children because that is not true,” Abangan said.
She admitted, though, that she had hit a female inmate with a folder after she saw the child kissing another inmate.
“But that was the only instance I did that and the child understood it. If I maltreat children, why would they go to our house, after they are released, to thank me? There are even children who hug me when I meet them in the streets,” Abangan said.
While she has lost interest in going back to work, Abangan has written a letter to the management board to ask for a reconsideration. (GN)
(September 24, 2005 issue)
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