Expat charged for hitting son

For allegedly hitting his four-year-old son, a foreigner was charged with child abuse before the court.

Prosecutor Rustom Presas, Jr. has indicted the 58-year-old New Zealander for violation of the Republic Act 7610. The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the accused due to the confidentiality nature of the crime.

“The child after the incident feared his father and suffered anxiety. This was evidentiary shown by the psychological report of a government psychologist. The respondent is liable under section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610,” the resolution read.

Presas recommended P80,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the 32-year-old live-in partner of the accused. The complainant, a resident of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, also filed a complaint for violation of the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children against the accused.

The complaint, however, was dismissed for lack of evidence.

The complainant alleged that she broke up with the accused in 2012 after learning that he had impregnated another woman. Although they have already separated, she allowed the accused to visit their son.

On October 14, 2013, the complainant said she was asked by the accused to come to his residence in Minglanilla to discuss about the financial support for their child. The discussion, however, ended up in a heated argument.

The accused reportedly hit the child’s head against the wall. The accused was summoned to submit his counter-affidavit but he reportedly failed to do so.