Should stiff sanctions be imposed on mothers who abandon their children, as in the case of the 'Gulf Air baby'?

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: The sanity of a mother who leaves her child has obviously gone out the window. How do you punish someone who does not anymore know right from wrong?

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Yes, no one is above the law. Mothers who abandon their children should face criminal raps.

It depends

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Do we mean punitive or supportive sanctions? Either way, the State should consider all the factors and circumstances that led to the abandonment.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Stiff penalties should be imposed on mothers who intentionally abandon their children because of their non-acceptance of responsibility after having sex for pleasure. But in the case of the ‘Gulf Air baby’, there is a need for the mother to be counseled because of the trauma she experienced from either sexual abuse or human trafficking.

Mica Mae Galacgac, Ilocos Sur: Yes, provided that the punishment is deserved. At this point, many mothers go through many traumatic experiences, which leads them to do abnormal acts such as abandoning their children. The punishment should only come when the mother doesn’t have a valid reason for doing what she did.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: A woman who does such a thing must have a very compelling reason to do so. We can’t second guess them so I think it’s best if their sanctions would depend on circumstances that surround such act.

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: The case of the abandoned ‘Gulf Air baby’ caught the attention of the general public because he was secretly delivered and left in a trash bin of an airplane from Bahrain that landed in the Philippines. Actually, the abandonment of children happens every now and then everywhere in the world. Should sanctions be then imposed against the mothers? By law, crime is subject to punishment but there are those that are not, depending on the mitigating circumstances.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: If intentionally done, a mother who abandons her child should be heavily sanctioned for the act that she committed.

Alfredo Guevarra Jr., Pasay City: The imposition of sanctions on mothers who abandon their children should be done on a case-to-case basis.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Of course, sanctions should be imposed on mothers who abandon their newborns, as in the case of the Gulf Air baby. It’s like leaving the newborn good as dead knowing that it is at its most delicate state. However, circumstances surrounding the act should be considered in imposing sanctions.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Sanctions should be on case-to-case basis, depending on the circumstances that forced the mother to do such act. I still believe in the inherent mother instinct.

A crime is a crime

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Dumping and abandoning newborns is a crime. There must be a law stiffly penalizing mothers for this.

Roger Caravana, Bulacan: Stiff sanctions should be imposed on mothers who abandon their children because it is not only illegal, it also runs contrary to the teachings of society.

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Definitely, these kinds of mothers should be brought to justice. This is one act that is truly reprehensible. In the case of the ‘Gulf Air baby’, his mother should face the appropriate charges and it’s up to the court to decide on her fate.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Sanctions should be based on the prevailing law RA 9208 and/or Art 276 of the Revised Penal Code (Abandoning a minor) to deter future offenders.

Ric Vergara, Calamba: It’s a qualified offense, therefore, the erring moms deserve stiff sanctions. Kung namatay ang bata, murder dapat ang kaso niya.

Look deeper

Celina Denise Javier, Vigan City: No. A mother in her right mind would never abandon her child. We should look deeper into the real conditions and reasons for these mothers to leave their newborns. They may possibly be victims of maltreatment, physical or psychological.

Lourdes Gayle Gamilde, Ilocos Sur: Cruel are mothers who abandon newborns. But before pointing a finger at anybody, maybe it would be proper if we investigate or recognize what prompted her to do such a thing. Hindi matitiis ng ina ang kanyang anak.

Gia Felicci Mathilda Alonzo, Ilocos Sur: Yes, so there would be fewer cases of abandonment of children in our country. In the case of the ‘Gulf Air baby’, they should first investigate the mother who abandoned her child then impose the necessary sanction against her. We should remember that the life of an innocent baby is in the hands of the mother.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Cases of mothers abandoning their children, especially newborns, for whatever reason, have been going on even in early times. The mother should be investigated first to know what appropriate sanctions will be given her.

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: Why mothers abandon their newborns should be answered first before stiff sanctions are imposed on them.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Looking deeper into the situation, the girl is a victim and the consequence of the abuse she suffered must have forced her to abandon her child for the sake of her family.

There are institutions out there

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: Yes, I agree that stiff sanctions should be imposed on mothers who abandon their children because it is a crime. It happens so often especially in urban areas. But we have plenty of institutions that take care of children abandoned by their parents so mothers have no reason to just throw or leave them behind in unsafe places.

Compassion, not sanction

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: It’s a very sensitive issue. Nonetheless, mothers who abandon their children no matter clearly have a problem in the head. Sanctions and help should be there when needed.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Abandonment of children by their mothers is a criminal act. If the mother feels a social stigma, she can go to any institution that can help her hide her shame and take care of the baby. But the mother of the ‘Gulf Air baby’ could have been extremely confused about her situation. She needs compassion instead of sanction.

Y.B. Mores, Mandaluyong City: Just as Jesus did to the woman caught committing adultery, women caught abandoning their children should be treated with dignity and compassion.

Felix Ramento, USA: For live birth without regard for the baby’s chance of survival, the mother should be charged for attempted murder or murder as the case may be. On the other hand, mere abandonment but with attendant care should be treated with compassion and understanding.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Sanctions? We have just seen on TV a sad drama about the social cost an OFW pays upon returning home. How I wish the government would help solve this problem instead of talking about sanctions.

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: Of course not. Tama na ang siyam na buwan of physical and psychological stress na dinanas nila. Tender loving care is what they need. They should hold on.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Let us not jump into conclusions right away. Mothers who abandon their babies need understanding and attention. Perhaps these mothers were also victims of circumstances and nobody knows. This is the right time to extend the necessary assistance to these mothers, and for every action they make, I believe there are reasons behind those.

Babies are helpless

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Mothers who abandon their children should be punished. A baby is a gift from God. Besides, a baby is helpless.

Bottom-line is contraception

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Mothers who abandon newborns should be jailed. But that should not be the end of the story. No mother will abandon her baby, so why do they do it? We should blame the Church for prohibiting the use of contraceptives. Government policies that result in poverty are also to blame. In the absence of an effective family planning program, the Church or government should provide a halfway house where pregnant women can live until they give birth to their babies, like in Japan.

Long-time incarceration

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: I think stiff sanctions alone won’t be enough penalty for this crime. This is almost murder of an innocent human being whose only fault was to be born to a woman who is without a conscience. Long imprisonment will be the right penalty for the mother to realize during her long incarceration that human life even for her innocent child is a God-given gift that should be treasured.

Death penalty is the answer

Rose Leobrera, Manila: They should suffer the penalty of death. My God, how can they do that to little angels? These mothers are not human. They are worse than animals because even animals care so much about their children.

Life is precious

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Very stiff sanctions should be imposed on mothers who abandon their children. Dear life is the only thing valuable on this planet.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Yes, life is the most wonderful gift God has given to us, so we have to nurture it.

Conduct psychological, EQ tests

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas: Sanctions should only be imposed after psychological and emotional tests are done to determine the mental state of the mother.

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: You cannot impose sanctions to mentally and emotionally deranged mothers. Likewise to would-be mothers who are victims of human trafficking.

Weak law enforcement

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Stiff sanctions for mothers who abandon their babies will not solve the problem because we still have a weak law enforcement and justice system.

Tantamount to murder

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Mothers who dump or leave their children should be punished regardless of their reasons for doing this. Their act is tantamount to murder or attempted homicide. I suggest that a campaign against the abandonment of children be undertaken by a tripartite body represented by the government, NGOs and the church.

What about the abusers?

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Bakit ganun, we’re already asking for punishment. To punish mothers who abandon their children is like condoning the act of those who abused them. Alright, it takes two to tango. Dapat parusahan din ‘yong kasayaw n’ya, ‘di ba?

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: It takes two to tango, my Lolo Jose would always say. Why punish only the mother, how about the father? Unwanted pregnancies happen, whether they were conceived in or out of wedlock, rape, incest, whatever. Life is precious so we must preserve it.

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