Pinagmamalupitan ang ampon

I am a grade school teacher here in Batangas City. I need your advice because I want to save one of my students from the hands of his abusive parents.

Ten years old pa lang po ang pupil kong si Jerico. Palagi s’yang malungkot at mukhang stressed, which is unusual for kids his age. At dahil concerned po ako sa well-being ng mga students ko, pilit kong inalam kung bakit s’ya nagkakaganon.

Nalaman kong ampon lang pala si Jerico ng kanyang tinuturing na magulang na sina Ferdinand at Narcisa Ongleo. One year old pa lang po s’ya nang ampunin ng mag-asawa. Ayon sa mga kapitbahay, kahit noong una pa lang ay palagi nang pinapabayaan nina Mr. And Mrs. Ongleo si Jerico. Iniiwanan siya sa kapitbahay o sa kung sinu-sino dahil lagi silang pumupunta sa Maynila.

At mula nang anim na taong gulang na ang bata ay ginawa na s’yang katulong sa bahay. Sa halip na ituring bilang isang tunay na anak ay pinagmamalupitan pa nila si Jerico.

Inamin ito sa akin ng bata nang minsang kinausap ko s’ya nang masinsinan. Napansin ko kasi ang mga sugat at pasa n’ya sa katawan.

Gusto ko pong isumbong ang mga magulang ni Jerico sa DSWD dahil hindi sila nararapat na magkaron ng anak. Ano po ang maari kong gawin? Maari pa bang mapawalang-bisa ang adoption papers ni Jerico? –Fely Amurao from Batangas City

Dapat mo ipagbigay-alam agad sa DSWD upang maimbestigahan ang pananakit at pang-aabusong ginagawa ng mag-asawang Ongleo kay Jerico. Matapos ang imbestigasyon, kung sa tingin ng DSWD ay may basehan upang kanselahin ang adoption, tutulungan nila ang adopted na magsampa ng kaukulang kaso sa Korte upang ipawalang-bisa ang adoption ng bata.

Section 19 of the Republic Act No. 8552 enumerates the Grounds for Rescission of Adoption: Upon petition of the adoptee, with the assistance of the Department if a minor or if over eighteen (18) years of age but is incapacitated, as guardian/counsel, the adoption may be rescinded on any of the following grounds committed by the adopter(s): (a) repeated physical and verbal maltreatment by the adopter(s) despite having undergone counseling; (b) attempt on the life of the adoptee; (c) sexual assault or violence; or (d) abandonment and failure to comply with parental obligations.

Adoption, being in the best interest of the child, shall not be subject to rescission by the adopter(s). However, the adopter(s) may disinherit the adoptee for causes provided in Article 919 of the Civil Code.

Ang mga sumusunod naman ang legal effects kung maipagkaloob ang Petition for Rescission of Adoption, ayon pa rin sa R.A. 8552:

Sec. 20. Effects of Rescission. – a) If the petition is granted, the parental authority of the adoptee’s biological parent(s), if known, or the legal custody of the Department shall be restored if the adoptee is still a minor or incapacitated; b) The reciprocal rights and obligations of the adopter(s) and the adoptee to each other shall be extinguished; c) The court shall order the Civil Registrar to cancel the amended certificate of birth of the adoptee and restore his/her original birth certificate; d) Succession rights shall revert to its status prior to adoption, but only as of the date of judgment of judicial rescission. Vested rights acquired prior to judicial rescission shall be respected.

All the foregoing effects of rescission of adoption shall be without prejudice to the penalties imposable under the Penal Code if the criminal acts are properly proven.