Court asked to dismiss STC plaint vs. parents

CEBU, Philippines - The parents of two of the five minors who were barred from attending their graduation rites by St. Theresa’s College earlier this year are seeking the dismissal of the complaint filed by the STC High School Department against them.

The respondents said the criminal complaint for child abuse which was filed against them was a “shrewd countercharge”.

“Complainants invaded privacy and boldly used them to call and label our children immoral. Unable to grasp the gravity of the wrong committed, complainants wants us to answer for the abuses they committed. Complainants must have their heads examined,” the joint counter-affidavit read.

The minors were not allowed to participate in their graduation rites last March after scandalous photos of them appeared on a social networking website.

In the complaint filed by the school and its officials, they alleged the parents committed child abuse for their failure to supervise their children.

They added parents failed to guide their children after the latter were allegedly able to enter a bar, drink hard liquor and take lewd photos.

The complainants were STC directress Sister Ma. Purisima Pe, assistant principal Mussolini Yap, Salome Lape, Maria Teresa Atienza, and Jo-ann Zaldumbide.

The parents, through their counsel Cornelio Mercado, said the complainants violated the right to privacy of the minors for downloading their photos without their consent.

“We live in a democracy and the right to privacy and freedom of expression are enshrined in our Constitution. Being a school or teacher is not license to violate and invade the privacy of its students,” the joint counter-affidavit read.

Moreover, the parents earlier said their children were traumatized after the school defied the order of the court to let them graduate.

With the defiance, the parents said they had filed unjust vexation against the school and its officials before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. — (FREEMAN)