Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Bill criminalizing elder neglect may lead to 'fear-based' compliance, family conflict: expert

A senior citizen strole victim gets physical therapy for her paralyzed hands in Fairview, Quezon City. January 20, 2016.

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175271769274420160120-Social-Security-System--3-JC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A senior citizen strole victim gets physical therapy for her paralyzed hands in Fairview, Quezon City. January 20, 2016. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A senior citizen strole victim gets physical therapy for her paralyzed hands in Fairview, Quezon City. January 20, 2016. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — &quot;Marcela&quot;, 66, earns spare change by holding doors open at convenience stores. She previously collected junk to survive, until chronic leg pain limited her mobility. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/blogs/opinions/05/13/21/senior-citizens-pension-sss-gsis">The Filipino elderly are left behind</a></div><p>Without financial help from her three children, Marcela says she’s forced to keep working just to afford food and medicine.</p><p>“Napilitan ako mangalakal tapos magbukas ng pinto kasi wala namang mag-aabot sa aking mga anak eh… Nahihirapan din ako kasi may nararamdaman ako, pinipilit ko pa rin mag hanapbuhay,” Marcela said.</p><p>Under the &quot;Parents Welfare Act of 2025,&quot; refiled by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, elderly parents in need of support, like Marcela, may file a petition asking the court to order their children to provide them with assistance.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/lacson-refiles-bill-penalizing-children-who-abandon-elderly-parents-1535">Lacson refiles bill penalizing children who abandon elderly parents</a></div><p>Failure to provide financial support to elderly parents for three months without a valid reason could result in up to six months in jail or a P100,000 fine.</p><p>Abandoning parents in need of care may lead to a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of P300,000.</p><p>Marcela says she disagrees with the measure because she knows her children are also dealing with financial hardship.</p><p>“Gusto ko yung magbibigay sila sakin, yung hindi sapilitan… May pagkukulang din ako sa mga anak ko. Ngayon po, parang masama ang loob nila sakin…. May pamilya na rin kasi sila… Kung gusto nila magbigay, salamat, kung hindi… gumagawa na lang ako ng paraan para mabuhay ko ang sarili ko,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;UTANG NA LOOB&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Andrew Ronquillo, 24, shares the same views as Marcela.</p><p>He believes the government is misplacing its priorities with punitive measures and should instead focus on improving existing policies such as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.</p><p>“Hindi ako pabor, especially doon sa pagki-criminalize ng mga anak… Kumbaga para mong isinasabatas yung utang na loob,” Ronquillo said.</p><p>“I’m lucky enough to grow up in a family na very nurturing and very loving and gusto ko rin talaga makapag-give back sa kanila… it should be out of love, not out of fear na baka maparusahan ka ng batas,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/01/19/grandkids-should-take-care-of-lolo-lola-if-parents-incapacitated-lacson">Grandkids should take care of lolo, lola if parents incapacitated: Lacson</a></div><p>But for Orlando Cunanan, 70, the bill could prevent neglect toward elderly parents who, like him, live on limited pensions.</p><p>“Halimbawa, inabandon kami ng mga anak ko, napakasakit… Dapat lang na panagutin sila kasi pagkatapos silang tulungan, tapos lumaki na sila, iiwanan ka na lang bigla, so sang-ayon din ako… Mahirap yun kasi, kunwari magkasakit kang bigla at walang mag-aalaga sayo,” Cunanan said.</p><p>“P8,000 lang ang pension namin… Sa kanila lang naman kami umaasa sa mga anak ko… Kung ganun naman ang magulang mo, wala naman trabaho, normal lang po yung tulungan yung mga magulang,” his wife, Cely, said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FEAR-DRIVEN DUTY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>However, a psychology and social science expert warned that complying with the bill out of fear of imprisonment may cause emotional stress and put a strain on family relationships.</p><p>“Intensyon ng panukala na i-cultivate yung value ng genuine na care, yung genuine compassion doon sa mga magulang. Kaya lang, ang anak na adult, pag nag-comply nang ganto out of fear, maaaring magdulot yun sa kanya ng tension,&quot; said Tricia Zafra, a psychologist and lecturer in Social Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/16/house-bill-filed-prohibiting-defining-elder-abuse-1847">House bill filed prohibiting, defining elder abuse</a></div><p>&quot;Kung merong stress sa pamilya in the long term, maaari pa pagkaroon ng family conflict… nakakaapekto ito sa individual mental health,” she added.</p><p>She said that the law should also consider children who may be financially incapable or who have experienced abuse from their parents.</p><p>“Hindi naman din lahat ng mga anak na hindi nakakatulong sa kanilang mga nakatatandang mga magulang ay masama. Kung minsan itong mga anak na ito ay kailangan din ng tulong para sa kanilang sarili o yung iba sa kanila ay kinailangan protektahan yung mga sarili nila,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LACSON CLARIFIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a statement, Lacson clarified &quot;several misconceptions and insinuations&quot; raised about his bill.</p><p>&quot;Abuse, abandonment or neglect by parents of their children are exempting circumstances. Under the proposed measure, walang obligasyon ang anak na magsuporta sa magulang na nang-abuso, nag-abandon at nagpabaya sa kanya (the child has no obligation to support parents who abused, abandoned, or neglected him/her),&quot; he said.</p><p>He noted that under Sec. 16 of the bill, if the court determines that the parent in need of support had abandoned, abused or neglected the child, it may dismiss the petition or reduce the quantum of support.</p><p>The bill also pointed out that children who have no financial capability to support their parents are not obliged to do so.</p><p>&quot;[Taking care of the elderly members of society] is a shared responsibility of government and the children of said elderly. The care for the aged is neither an exclusively private matter to be left to the family nor an exclusively public concern best left to the government,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PRESERVATION OF FAMILY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that although it has enough centers to shelter abandoned and neglected elderly, institutional placement should only be done as a last resort after exploring all interventions to keep the family intact.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/16/marcos-announces-50-pct-train-fare-discount-for-seniors-pwds-0928">Marcos announces 50 pct train fare discount for seniors, PWDs</a></div><p>“Ang gusto ng DSWD is buo yung pamilya. Na hindi dapat nadadala sa mga centers itong ating mga nanay at tatay. Unless merong mga pang-aabuso na nagaganap sa loob ng pamilya, talagang di na maalagaan yung ating mga nanay,” DSWD Asec. Irene Dumlao said.</p><p>The agency said it is open to working with lawmakers to align the bill with the needs of vulnerable sectors.</p><p>“We support the intent of the proposed bill to protect and give due recognition, love, and care to our parents… once the proposed bill is submitted to our office or is endorsed to our office… we will make sure na magpo-provide tayo ng mga comments and recommendations to enhance or improve the version that was filed in the Senate,” Dumlao said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQr3uhdc884?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Ping Lacson clarified that under his bill, the child has no obligation to support parents who abused, abandoned, or neglected him/her.</p>

Sen. Ping Lacson clarified that under his bill, the child has no obligation to support parents who abused, abandoned, or neglected him/her.