Stepfather, a policeman faces child abuse raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted a stepfather for five counts of child abuse for allegedly maltreating his stepchildren.

In his four-page joint resolution, state prosecutor Gandhi Truya said he found sufficient evidence to hold the accused, a police officer, for trial.

The Freeman is withholding the name of the accused due to the nature of the case.

“In sum, of the number of complaints and allegations against respondent, the undersigned finds that there is probable cause against respondent for five counts of violating the child abuse law against minors’ six-year-old girl and nine-year-old boy,” the resolution read.

Truya then recommended P400,000 bail for the policeman.

In her complaint, the six-year-old girl alleged that on November 5, 2012 at around 5:00 p.m. she was ordered by the accused to take off her clothes and do 500 “jumping jack repetitions” after she failed to answer the 11x10 multiplication question.

Early morning of the following day, she said, she was asked to recite the story of the “Three Little Pigs” but failed to memorize so the accused pulled her tongue with a pair of pliers. When she tried to run, the accused beat her hips.

In a separate complaint, the nine-year old boy claimed that on November 3, 2012 at around 5:00 p.m. the accused hit him in the head using a shoe, kicked him in the stomach and punched his right eye after he failed to recite the prayer.

Aside from that, he said on Nov. 5, 2012 at 9:30 pm he was asked by the accused to take off his clothes and was directed to walk towards a fast food chain three times when he failed to answer mathematical questions such as 300x31.

The following day, the nine-year-old boy said they were told by the accused that they have no right to stay at the house. Then they were instructed to do some jumping jacks, push-ups and stork walk several times without eating.

Aside from the minors, their mother also lodged a complaint for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the violence against women and children.

She said on November 17, 2012, she confronted her husband about his treatment of her children. She broke up with the accused but the latter did not agree. The accused grabbed her arms and pushed her to the concrete wall.

In his counter-affidavit, the accused said that on Nov. 15, 2012 he fetched his wife at the Mactan International Airport. At that time, he said he already felt something difference about his wife.

On Nov. 17, after dinner, he asked his wife what was wrong but the latter answered that she wanted to break up with him. The following day, he said he wanted to reconcile with his wife but the latter shouted. He denied pushing his wife to the wall.

Truya found sufficient evidence to elevate the child abuse case against the accused but dismissed the complaint filed by the wife. — (FREEMAN)