MANILA — A party-list lawmaker representing the senior citizens on Monday said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should conduct house-to-house surveys to find out if the elderly in their localities are being treated well by their families.
Senior Citizen Rep. Milagros Aquino Magsaysay said the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government should boost the implementation of senior citizen welfare laws by conducting a barangay-level check on seniors citizens’ care.
Magsaysay noted that there have been several crimes against the elderly, as well as reports of prolonged inhumane treatment of elders who suffer from mental illness or failing physical health.
“Nakakapangilabot ang mga balita hinggil sa mga magulang na kinakadena o ikinukulong ng kanilang sariling mga anak. Kamakailan lang, marami ding napapabalitang mga nakatatandang nabudul-budol. (It is shocking to hear news that an elderly parent has been chained or locked up by their own children. Recently, there are also reports of senior citizens getting swindled),” Magsaysay said.
The lawmaker also called for the swift passage of House Bill 6891 or the Anti-Elder Abuse Bill, which has hurdled committee level in February.
“Nilalayong tugunan ng HB 6891 ang matagal nang problema ito, hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaigting ng parusa sa mga nang-aabuso ng nakatatanda, kundi ang mas mahalaga, sa pamamagitan ng pagtatalaga ng mga mekanismo para maiwasan ang pang-aabuso bago pa ito mangyari (HB 6891 aims to address this problem, not only by imposing stiffer penalties for elder abuse, but more importantly, by establishing mechanisms to prevent such abuse from happening),” she said.
Under the bill, elder abuse shall be considered a public offense.
The bill lists the following acts as elder abuse: causing physical harm to the elderly, threatening or attempting to cause the elderly any form of physical harm; placing the elderly in fear of imminent physical harm; compelling the elderly; causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule, or humiliation of the elderly including repeated verbal and emotional abuse, among others. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
