Mother facing raps for neglecting kids

A Minglanilla resident is now facing criminal charges for neglecting the needs of her two young children and wasting her time drinking beer with friends, singing karaoke and playing mahjong while her husband is working in Mindanao.

Catherine Cabatuan, 28, of Lower Calajoan, Minglanilla is now detained at the female ward of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center while her case for violating a provision of the Special Protection of Children's Act has already been filed before the Regional Trial Court.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba has approved the filing of the complaint against Cabatuan and recommended that her bail be set at P80,000.

Personnel of the Minglanilla District Hospital are now caring for Cabatuan's one-year-old son after he was brought there by the concerned citizens who found the weak and sickly child alone inside their house last Sunday evening.

Arlene Basabe, 37, a barangay health worker of Calajoan, Minglanilla and one of Cabatuan's neighbors, executed an affidavit that the accused always neglected her children, aged three and one-year old.

"If she's not drinking beer, I'll see her playing mahjong while her children were at home without anyone capable enough to take care of them. Sometimes, I saw the children squatting in the ground outside of their house without any underwear, very undernourished and dirty," Basabe narrated.

For this, Cabatuan was summoned by the members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and advised not to neglect her children or face charges for violating the law that protects the children from abuse.

Cabatuan changed her habits for a while but days later Basabe again observed that she returned to her old ways.

Basabe narrated that last Sunday evening, a mentally-ill 15-year old relative of Cabatuan emerged from the latter's house carrying with him the one-year old boy like a doll, then placed the child on top of a mahjong table and said "Awa n'yo bata o, matyonon."

Rosita Sabal, 42, a relative and neighbor of the accused, also confirmed that Cabatuan always neglected her children despite their unhealthy condition. - Rene U. Borromeo