Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is seeking the immediate passage of a measure that will penalize children who abandon their old and sick parents.
Lacson’s Senate Bill No. 29, to be known as the “Parents Welfare Act of 2019,” requires children to provide necessary support to their aging, sick and incapacitated parents.
The proposed measure, which Lacson had filed in the 17th Congress, seeks to further strengthen filial responsibility and to make it a criminal offense in case of flagrant violation thereof, Lacson said.
A parent who is in need of support may file a petition for support before the court and pray tor the issuance of a support order against those children who failed or refused to provide the necessary support, the bill stated.
The legal representation of the parent in need of support will be provided by the Public Attorney’s Office and no court fees will be assessed, it added.
Under the bill, the penalty of imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of P100,000 if the respondent fails to give support for three consecutive months without justifiable cause.
“Whoever, having the care or protection of a parent in need of support, leaves such parent in any place with the intention of wholly abandoning the latter shall be punished with imprisonment of six years to 10 years and a fine of not less than P300,000,” Lacson said in his bill.
Meanwhile, the bill seeks to establish Old Age Homes for the elderly, sick or otherwise incapacitated parents in every province and highly urbanized city.(senate.gov.ph)
