Maltreatment is child abuse

A LAW EACH DAY [Keeps Trouble Away]

- JOSE C. SISON

Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 7610, inflicting physical injuries on a minor child to maltreat or malign him/her in a manner that would debase, demean or degrade his/her dignity constitutes child abuse with a heavier penalty than the crime of physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code. In this case, the accused involved is a school teacher who punishes one of her pupils. So the issue resolved here is whether the teacher, who has disciplinary authority, can be held liable of child abuse under RA 7610.

Mila is an elementary school teacher. One morning before her class started, Mila was resting and sleeping on a bamboo sofa inside her classroom when one of her pupils, Bruno, hurriedly entered the classroom and accidentally bumped Mila's knee. Roused from her sleep, Mila asked Bruno to apologize to her. But Bruno did not obey and just proceeded to his seat. So Mila went to Bruno and pinched him on the thigh. Then she proceeded to pick up Bruno by his armpits and pushed him to the floor. As Bruno fell, his body hit a desk, causing him to lose consciousness. But Mila still proceeded to pick him up by his ears and repeatedly slammed him down on the floor, until Bruno cried.