FOR allegedly abusing his one-year-old son, a father will be facing charges in violation of the law that protects women and children, a government psychologist said Thursday.
Stella Ferrarez, a psychologist at the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), said that complaint for the violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Violence against Women and their Children (VAWC), has already been prepared against the suspect.
As proof that the incident happened, Ferrarez said the toddler’s aunt was able to take a video recording of the father manhandling the child.
She said the child's aunt messaged their social worker to report his brother's maltreatment toward the kid.
"Ang auntie sa bata maoy nagtext nga ipakuha ang bata kay gina-maltreat sa papa. Makita sa video, hapak-hapakon sa hanger, pasakitan niya (The youngster’s aunt texted that he should be rescued as he was being maltreated by the father. The video showed the child being beaten with a hanger)," Ferrarez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday.
Along with police escorts, Ferrarez's team went to the father's residence hours after CSWD received the text message.
When the team arrived in the area, it failed to talk to the father since he fled upon seeing the law enforcers.
"Wala me nagaka-istorya sa papa kay nagpanic siya nidagan. Pero nagfile naman ta ug blotter," she said.
Immediately after the rescue, the child was brought to the Care Center for Children in sitio Macanhan, Barangay Carmen for proper medication.
This was not the first time the child was rescued, according to Ferrarez.
In April 2014, the victim was taken out of the father's custody due to the same reasons and given to the mother.
However, the father brought back the child since the mother, Ferrarez said, was not able “to sustain the child's needs.”
When asked by Sun*Star Cagayan de Oro about the complaint that they are filing against their son, the suspect’s parents refused to comment.
This paper learned that the child's parents are separated.
The toddler is now in the mother's custody while the father's parents promised to provide regular monetary support for the child.