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Friday, March 29, 2024

Prohibiting child spanking is ‘O.A.’

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It was not at all surprising hearing the news that President Duterte has vetoed a bill passed by Congress seeking to prohibit parents from employing corporal punishment on their children.

As we do, Manong Digong does not share the notion that such form of physical punishment does more harm that good to a misbehaving child of any age. 

I agree with him that reasonable corporal punishment that is administered with restraint constitutes an “act of love,” as well as a duty of responsible parents. 

More often than not, the child getting spanked realizes that.

It is one of the ways to inculcate a sense of responsibility and accountability for his or her unacceptable behavior. 

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Disciplining children is a corrective action distinct from physical abuse with intent to hurt or inflict injury.

There is no arguing that we are all for the protection of our children against any form of harm or abuse. 

That is precisely why we have Republic Act 7610, titled “ Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and  Discrimination Act” and RA 9262, “The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.”

These are in addition to the applicable provisions Revised Penal Code that penalize crime against persons, including children.

That means we have more than enough laws to protect the children in the country, and coming up with yet another edict to declare corporal punishment illegal is simply overacting and hypocritical. 

What we need is to enact measures that will protect children from turning delinquent, troublesome and, eventually, criminals. 

Whichever epal lawmaker authored the vetoed bill failed to recognize that corporal punishment has been practiced as a method of disciplining the kids since pre- colonial period. It is virtually part of the Filipino culture. 

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