BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Supreme Court (SC) has reiterated the importance of respecting the dignity and well-being of children in all forms of discipline.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, the SC’s Second Division highlighted the fine line between reasonable discipline and child abuse, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to parental authority and children’s rights.
The ruling reaffirmed that disciplining children, even with physical measures, does not automatically amount to child abuse unless there is a clear and specific intent to harm the child’s dignity.
This interpretation is anchored on Section 3(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, which defines child abuse as any act that debases, degrades, or demeans a child’s dignity.
In the case at hand, the father was convicted of child abuse after subjecting his 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to violent and excessive disciplinary actions.
The SC found that his actions exceeded the bounds of reasonable discipline and demonstrated intent to harm the children’s dignity.
The SC underscored that while parents have the authority to discipline their children, such measures must not be violent, excessive, or disproportionate to the child’s behavior.
It further clarified that if there is no intent to harm the child’s dignity, the acts might not qualify as child abuse but could still result in liability under other provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
This landmark ruling reinforces the need for parents and guardians to balance their disciplinary methods with the protection of children’s rights, ensuring that their dignity and well-being remain paramount./PN
