(Eagle News)–Senator Panfilo Lacson wants children who abandon their old and sick parents penalized under a new law.
Under Senate Bill No. 29, to be known as the “Parents Welfare Act of 2019,” 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 said the parent shall be legally represented by the Public Attorney’s Office.
No court fees will be assessed.
Under the bill, the penalty of imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of P100,000 awaits the respondent who 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.
The bill also seeks to establish Old Age Homes for the “elderly, sick or otherwise incapacitated parents in every province and highly urbanized city.”