MANILA: Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros (pic) has filed a resolution pushing for a Senate investigation of the alleged abuse and maltreatment of 156 rescued children under the custody of a certain Pastor Jeremy Ferguson of the New Life Baptist Church of Mexico Pampanga, Inc. (NLBCMPI).
Hontiveros, the head of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said in Senate Resolution No. 77 that “the reported incident underscores the necessity [for] a comprehensive review of accreditation, monitoring, and regulation mechanisms for public and private institutions that assume custody of minors to prevent similar cases.”
She cited reports that the children lived under abusive conditions, with some of them allegedly subjected to physical, verbal and psychological abuse while under the custody of the NLBCMPI.
“A complaint filed by two 12-year-old boys, as represented by their guardians and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), alleged that Pastor Ferguson made them kneel for long periods, fed them spoiled food and deprived them of play,” Hontiveros said in her resolution.
“Aside from issues of child abuse, the DSWD also found that NLBCMPI violated the DSWD registration, licence to operate and accreditation standards, and was operating the shelter under conditions that exposed the children to fire hazards, mismanagement of funds and improper case management, prompting the agency to issue a 30-day cease and desist order,” she added.
According to the senator, there is an urgent need to revisit existing laws and policies, including Republic Act No. 7610 and other related statutes, to ensure stronger safeguards for children placed in social welfare and development agencies like the NLBCMPI and other similar facilities. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
