Jokes spawn charges vs. Filipino-Chinese

For continuously "threatening" a four-year old boy that he will circumcise him, a 50-year-old Filipino-Chinese was charged before the court yesterday.

The court is expected to order the arrest of Bernardo Ong next week, but the accused, a resident of barangay Capitol Site, has been allowed to post a P20,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Assistant city prosecutor Gilberto Batayola said Ong committed child abuse by instilling fears in the child for his constant joking of "tulion tika bi, tulion tika bi," (I will circumcise you) every time he saw the boy.

According to Batayola, Ong's constant joking has psychologically affected the child who would cry every time he sees a pair of scissors in their house because the respondent would always show him a pair of scissors whenever he makes the joke.

The boy's mother, Jennifer Bilocora, asked Ong many times to stop threatening her son with circumcision, but the respondent did not stop with his jokes.

Batayola said Ong could be held liable under Republic Act 7610, the law that provides special protection for children.

Bilocora said the worst threat that Ong made against her son was on October 5, 2003 when the boy trembled and cried hysterically due to fear when the respondent showed him a pair of scissors and tried to reach his penis.

Psychologist Tina Velez, who was consulted by the boy's parents, said the child has been suffering from stress due to the threats of the respondent.

Bilocora said her child is now experiencing difficulty to sleep, and even had nightmares that have him crying at night. After examining the child, the psychologist was convinced that the boy would cry even with the mere presence of the respondent. -Rene U. Borromeo