SC approves dad’s custody of ‘abused’ child

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has rendered a landmark decision upholding the right of the father to apply for protection and custody orders for his child against the mother who is alleged to have committed violence against their child as contemplated under Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004.

In an 18-page en banc decision authored by Associate Justice Mario Lopez, the SC granted the petition filed by Randy Michael Knutson, an American citizen seeking the reversal of the ruling issued by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court, which junked his petition for the issuance of temporary protection and permanent protection orders on behalf of his daughter. The SC declared that contrary to the trial court’s ruling, RA 9262 allows the father of the offended party to apply for protection orders.

The high court stressed that although it previously ruled in Garcia v. Drilon (Garcia case) that the Congress excluded men as victims under R.A. 9262 as its legislative intent is to limit the protection against violence to women and children only, it is still “improper to conclude” that the law denies a father of the remedies provided under the law solely because of his gender or that he is not a “woman victim of violence.”

The SC noted that Section 9 (b) of R.A. 9262 allows “parents or guardians of the offended party” to file a petition for protection orders.

Court records showed that Knutson met her wife, Rosalina in Singapore in 2005, got married and had a daughter. In 2011, the family lived in the country but the couple became estranged after the petitioner discovered her extra-marital affairs. Despite their separation, the petitioner provided financial support to his wife and daughter. But the petitioner said his wife got hooked in casinos and would oftentimes leave her daughter under the care of strangers.

Midwives’ group slams DOH memo on new birthing guidelines for clinics

By Rio N. Araja

AN ASSOCIATION of midwives, mostly owners of maternity lying-in clinics on Thursday took a swipe at the Department of Health (DOH) for a 2021 circular restricting them to provide normal delivery for first-time mothers and those to give birth for their fifth child.

At a news conference in Quezon City, Patricia Gomez, Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP) Inc. executive director, said DOH’s Department Circular No. 2021-0005 goes against the Midwifery Act of 1992, forcing affected pregnant women to resort to traditional birth attendants or the so-called hilot. Under the directive, a lying-in clinic is not allowed to accommodate the delivery of primigravid (G1) or first-born child and grandmultigravid (G5) or fifth child and above.

Apart from this, Gomez said, midwives are prohibited to provide delivery for pregnant women aged 36 years and above.

“At least 40 percent of the maternal lyingin clinics across the country have shut down,” she cited. She lamented that IMAP has sought a dialogue with officials of DOH since 2021, to no avail.

“Today (Feb. 10), we hope to sit down with DOH, discuss our concerns and have a fruitful dialogue,” she told reporters.

“To DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, please listen to us, talk to us,” she said. She said the health department is obliging lying-in operators to enter into a memorandum of understanding with waste disposal haulers, and even into a memorandum of agreement with any DOH-accredited ambulance services, “an additional burden to us.”

Rosalina also incurred large debts from casino financiers prompting her to sell the house and lot, condominium unit, and vehicles that he provided for the family. His wife ended up renting an apartment and entered into a romantic relationship with another man.

The petitioners also found out that her daughter was being maltreated by her mother.

One time, the petitioner claimed his wife pointed a knife at her daughter and threatened to kill her.

He recalled that her wife even texted him about her plan to kill their daughter and to commit suicide.

FROM IMEE. Senator Imee R. Marcos distributed ‘nutribun’ and gave cash assistance to more than 600 families who were victims of a recent fire in Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City on Feb. 3. Lino Santos

HB seeks prayers rooms in public, private offices

DEPUTY Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has filed a measure seeking to mandate the establishment of Muslim prayer rooms in every government building, hospital and military camp, as well as privately owned establishments such as malls, factories and hospitals.

In filing House Bill 7117, Hataman said that the Muslim population, whose numbers range anywhere from over 6 million to as high as 12 million depending on the source of data, forms a huge and significant part of the Filipino citizenry.

The measure also mandates that a prayer room be established in places enumerated, such as hospitals, military camps, malls, factories and government buildings and facilities. The number of prayer rooms can be increased as the need arises, and to be determined by the implementing agency of the law – the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

“As a predominantly Catholic country, many establishments and buildings – be it government-owned, private or for the benefit of the public – have chapels or prayer rooms that cater to the Catholic faithful. In hospitals, government buildings or even malls, there are always areas reserved for their worship,” the bill read. Maricel V. Cruz

PH signs quick-impact projects deal with India

INTERIOR secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. has signed an agreement with Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran for the implementation of quick-impact projects that will benefit local communities in the Philippines.