By Minka Tiangco
Nine parents of six minors, who were rescued from an alleged drug den at the Navotas Fish Port Complex in January, were recommended by the Navotas City Prosecutor to face child abuse charges.
Barangay North Bay Boulevard North Chairman Melvin Manalo filed charges for violation of section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Twelve minors were rescued by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in an alleged drug den at the Navotas Fish Port Complex at Barangay North Bay Boulevard North in Navotas City on January 16.
PDEA earned flak from some lawmakers and netizens after they allegedly paraded the minors befor media.
Navotas Assistant City Prosecutor William Reynon Jr. said in his resolution that the PDEA conducted interviews with the rescued minors, where it was found that six out of 12 minors were involved in the illegal drug activity in the area.
The children said they sold foil and worked as look-outs for scorers. They would earn up to P500 per day, which they would use to buy food for their families, the resolution dated June 10 read.
Reynon said the parents failed "to exercise their bounden parental obligation by providing them the necessary care, love, and the protection they need."
"Were it not because of their indifference, their minor children would have not been involved in the illegal drug activities in their barangay by selling foils and acting as look-outs to scorers," the resolution read.
"The fact that the earnings of these minors benefited their own family without any thought of questioning from where their money came from and without taking precautionary measures to stop them are indicative of knowledge from the respondents of the illegal acts wherein their children are involved in," it added.
Reynon recommended a bail of P80,000 for each count.
Meanwhile, charges against eight parents were recommended dismissed were lack of probable cause.