Talisay's opposition to contest corporal punishment proposal

CEBU, Philippines - “It will eventually die.” 

This is how opposition Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante described the proposed measure filed by Vice Mayor Alan Bucao which seeks to ban corporal punishment.

Villarante, who is a lawyer by profession, said he is against the passage of the measure, which a similar one became controversial in Cebu City because of the resistance of some parents. 

“It will only end up as another dead ordinance,” Villarante said. 

If approved, the ordinance, Bucao said, would make it unlawful for parents, teachers, yayas, housemaids and caregivers, foster parents, relatives who have custody of a child, and other persons responsible for the care and custody of a child, including those exercising special or substitute parental authority, to commit against such child any form of physical and humiliating or degrading punishment. 

This rule applies even if the perpetrators are their very own parent, guardian, teacher, or anybody who has children under their custody. 

But Villarante said the city does not need another ordinance because of the presence of ample national laws punishing child abuse, which is particularly stated in Republic Act 7610, otherwise known as “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” which declares that the state shall intervene on behalf of the child.

The ordinance will only cause confusion and difficult to implement, he said. 

If approved, the ordinance will only be applicable in the city of Talisay. 

Bucao’s ordinance also enacted to impose upon parents, teachers, guardians, and all persons legally responsible for the care and custody of the child, the preservation of his or her dignity and the protection of his/her welfare. 

Under Section 3 of Prohibited Acts or Punishment, it is unlawful to deliver blows to any part of a child’s body, such as striking, pushing, shoving, beating, kicking, hitting, slapping, lashing, with or without the use of an instrument such as but not limited to a cane, shoes, broom, stick, whip or belt.

It also prohibits pinching, pulling ears or hair, shaking, “kwelyohan,” twisting joints, cutting and shaving hair, cutting or piercing skin, forcibly lifting, dragging or throwing a child. 

Any person found to be violating any of the prohibited acts  will be punished by imprisonment of not more that six (6) months or fine not exceeding P5,000 or both.

Under Section 7, any person, including the child victim, having personal knowledge of the facts constituting the offense committed against the child, may file a complaint to the barangay or the police, or a healthcare provider, and shall be reported to the City Social Worker Development Office within twenty four hours from the time.