VM suggests referendum for corporal punishment law

CEBU, Philippines - To get the stand of the public, the ordinance on corporal punishment has to be subjected to a referendum according to Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young.

Young made the suggestion after Mayor Michael Rama announced during his State of the City Address (Soca) that he will veto the ordinance.

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña supports Young’s suggestion saying the ordinance cannot be strictly implemented if the public is against it.

But he told the councilors in a meeting yesterday to discuss the matter after the elections.

“The councilors are discussing that today. They asked my opinion, I said it’s better you just wait after the elections because this is a sensitive issue, a divisive ordinance and if you do it right now, politics could be injected, it’s not fair. Discuss it when nobody injects politics,” he told reporters.

Young said he wants to discuss the matter to Councilor Lea Japson, the main proponent of the ordinance.

But Japson does not support holding a referendum saying it is “not appropriate” for such an ordinance.

She reminds those who have negative reactions to the new law that its only purpose is to promote positive discipline among children.

 “Ang intention sa ordinance is to protect the children. Para maayo sad sila inig dako nila,” she added.

The ordinance received different opinions from the public.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and the mayor both said parents have the right to discipline their children to make them good citizens.

But Osmeña said there is no proof that people became professionals just because they were spanked by their parents when they were young.

Young said he wants to hold the referendum after the elections next year so it will not become a political issue.

The Anti-Corporal Punishment Ordinance authored by Councilors Japson, Margarita Osmeña, Alvin Dizon and John Philip Po II prohibits parents, foster parents, caregivers, teachers, housemaids, and relatives from committing physical or humiliating punishment to their children.

Section 4 of the ordinance states that a violator shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than six months or fine not exceeding to P5,000, or both.

The said ordinance was approved by the council during its session last week.

Japson advised the mayor to read the full content of the ordinance.

“Niagi na ta og committee on laws, and public hearing. We went through a process,” Japson said. — (FREEMAN)