Bill seeking to penalize children abandoning parents filed in Senate

A bill seeking to penalize children who abandon their old and sick parents has been filed in the Senate.

Under Senate Bill No. 29 or the “Parents Welfare Act of 2019” filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, children are required to provide necessary support to their aging, sick, and incapacitated parents.

The bill, which Lacson also filed in the 17th Congress, seeks to further strengthen filial responsibility and to make it a criminal offense in case of flagrant violation thereof.

It states a parent may file a petition before the court and pray for the issuance of a support order against those children who failed or refused to provide the necessary aid.

It added 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.

Under the bill, the penalty of imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of P100,000 will be imposed if the respondent fails to give support for three consecutive months without justifiable cause.

Also, those who will leave parents in need of support 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.

The bill also seeks to establish Old Age Homes for the elderly, sick, or otherwise incapacitated parents in every province and highly urbanized city. —Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News