Dad faces probe over toddler’s liquor drinking

APHOTO of a father making his toddler son drink an unidentified beverage out of a liquor bottle has gained social media attention.

The father, 20-year-old Jake (real name withheld), a resident of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City, denied that the bottle contained alcohol and alleged that it was just iced tea.

The photo showed a male toddler wearing only his diapers and a silver necklace, while his father held him in his right arm while making him drink straight out of the liquor bottle.

It was uploaded by Jake’s friend, 19-year-old Jason Lasmarias, last July 11 on the social networking site Facebook.

Two days later, it was reuploaded by Pinoy Abroad TV and as of 6 p.m. yesterday, the post has received 1,000 mixed reactions from netizens and has been shared by 18,500 Facebook users.

A concerned citizen who requested anonymity recognized the setting where the photo was taken and immediately called the attention of the barangay gender and development focal person and a social worker to hold a conference with the two teen males.

Together with Jason, Jake said they will issue a public apology via the same social media platform the photo was first uploaded on.

Sought for comment, Lea Japson, head of the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services, said they will check on the child and may file charges against the father and his friend for violating Republic Act 7610, which protects children from abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

Japson said that her office will also be working closely with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Visayas to see the situation of the child and if there is a need for the social welfare offices to intervene in the custodial matters. (SunStar Philippines)