Mother accused of beating her kids

CEBU - Teachers at Pardo Elementary School were alarmed after two pupils came to school, one with a black eye while the other has marks of whip on his back, legs and arms.

Two grade one pupils enrolled at the said school under the same section reported to their class yesterday despite the pain caused by their bruises.

Rich, 12, and Cherry, 6, (not their real names) are siblings living in Sitio Lourdes, barangay Pardo in Cebu City.

Rich alleged their mother beat them after she learned he tore his notebook into pieces while Cherry lost a sachet of fabric conditioner that was supposed to be used during the laundry.

The incident happened last Monday afternoon when the two children were absent from their class.

Geneper Recarte, the children’s adviser brought the victims immediately to the school clinic after she noticed their pitiful situation.

The two were given medical attention like wound dressing and mefenamic acid to minimize the pain of their injuries.

Recarte also brought the pupils to the school guidance’s office for interrogation and advice on what appropriate actions to do.

The guidance office decided to send a letter to the parents calling their attention regarding the matter, asking them to report in school as soon as possible.

Alma Angelica Damalerio, guidance coordinator said they would first call the attention of the parents and let their side be heard.

The school will make them promise in writing that they will not do such corporal punishment to their children because it is clearly an act of child abuse.

Damalerio said regardless of the mother’s reason on beating her child, she could be detained for her act.

She said the school will not let the incident pass without having the security of their pupils.

If the mother repeats the same abuse, she added they will already report her to the police and surrender the children to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper care.

Damalerio said the victims are obviously deprived of adequate family attention because they are malnourished.

Rich is already 12 years old but he doesn’t look like his age because he is shorter than the normal boy of his age.

The DSWD advised the teachers to have incident reported to the police.

Social worker Jemma Umpad of the Crisis Intervention Operation Division of the DSWD said the family should be visited for assessment. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)