Man charged for hitting child's playmate

CEBU, Philippines - A father trying to protect his one year old girl from her playmate ended up facing a criminal case in court for child abuse.

Assistant city prosecutor Alex Gabud has indicted Armando Sato of child abuse and recommended P30,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Gabud found probable cause to charge Sato in court for allegedly hitting and threatening to kill a six-year-old girl after the latter allegedly pushed his one-year-old daughter while playing.

The incident happened in August 2011 outside their residence in Barangay Lahug. The victim claimed to have been slapped by the accused and was threatened to be killed.

The victim said she was playing with the daughter of the accused who accidentally fell on the ground without her knowledge. Because what happened, the accused slapped and threatened to kill her.

Sato denied hitting the child. The medical certificate also shows negative result. However, the psychological report of a psychologist shows that the victim manifested “traumatic stress” because of the threat.

Psychologist Rosemarie Gonato said that she had an impression that the victim suffered “acute traumatic stress reaction.”

The prosecutor has given emphasis on the psychological report in the determination of probable cause.

 “It must be noted that the psychologist’s evaluation report is attached to the complainant in support thereof is not the only basis in the finding probable cause against the respondent but the complainant itself as a whole,” the prosecutor’s resolution reads. — (FREEMAN)