Expat charged for neglect of Cebuana wife, daughter

CEBU, Philippines - A British national is facing criminal charges in court for allegedly neglecting his family in Cebu City causing physiological distress to his Filipina wife and their daughter.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has found probable cause to hold the foreigner for trial for violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004). The FREEMAN withheld the name of the accused to protect the identity of the wife and the minor pursuant to the confidentiality provision of the law.

In her resolution, Prosecutor Genevieve Tabada-Lawas said the accused caused psychological distress to his wife and daughter when he refused to return to their home.

“Respondent's refusal to return home to his family despite the fact that he retired in the Philippines, clearly caused substantial emotional and psychological distress to his spouse who expected him to come home to their child with learning disability and dyslexia,” Lawas’ resolution reads.

The prosecutor’s office recommended P28, 000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the wife, accusing her husband of economic and psychological abuse. The couple married in 1996 and had a daughter. When the accused left Cebu City for his work assignment abroad, he would return home during the Ramadan holidays.

Sometime in 2006, however, the accused reportedly had a caregiver lover in Abu Dhabi. When he returned home in 2007, his treatment toward his wife reportedly became cold. In 2010, the accused reportedly stopped communicating with his wife and even stopped sending financial support to his daughter.

Their daughter, who was diagnosed with learning disability and dyslexia, stopped schooling because the accused ceased from supporting them financially. In 2011, the wife said she learned that her husband has eloped with another woman.

The accused failed to submit his counter-affidavit prompting the investigating prosecutor to resolve the complaint based on evidence presented by the complainant.

Lawas said the accused “demeaned and harassed” his wife and injured his relationship with his daughter when he sent “unpleasant things” to the girl through email.

The prosecutor, however, dismissed the wife's claim of economic abuse since the respondent sent financial support to them as evidenced by the remittance and deposit receipts. The prosecutor only upheld the psychological aspect of the allegation. (FREEMAN)