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[av_heading heading=’Solon advocates seniors’ rights’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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MANILA – To prevent elder abuse or neglect, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara seeks “stern” penalties against those who maltreat or exploit senior citizens.
His Senate Bill No. 1012 penalizes any person who physically, sexually and psychologically abuse senior with up to 12 years in prison.
Economic abuse will be punished by six months to six years imprisonment, the Anti-Senior Citizen Abuse Act said.
Neglect, on one hand, will be punished by one month to 6 months imprisonment.
“Respect for our elders has been one of the hallmarks of Philippine culture and society. Sadly, incidents of senior citizen abuse still persist in our country,” Angara said.
According to a recent University of the Philippines study, children of the elders rank highest in number in terms of perpetrating the abuse, followed by spouses and then grandchildren.
Most seniors were abused by their children while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the report also said.
The proposed bill also seeks to create a help desk to assist the victims of elder abuse.
It likewise pushes to provide them temporary shelters, counseling, psycho-social services and recovery, rehabilitation programs, and livelihood assistance.
Angara also authored the Expanded Senior Citizens Act./PN
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