By MB Online
Police arrested a mother and her accomplice after allegedly forcing her two-year-old child to drink beer and smoke a cigarette Monday morning.
Police BGen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., chief of Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said suspects Gina Terco, 25, a resident of Barangay Sta. Monica, Novaliches, and her boyfriend Michael Ramores, 30, of Marikina City, were nabbed in separate operations.
According to a television report by ABS-CBN, the father of the child reported the act to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) after watching a video of his wife forcing their child to drink beer.
Another video, dated June 3, also showed the accomplice lighting up a cigarette for the child at a motel in Cubao, Quezon City.
The father said he watched the said videos on his wife’s phone and will file a case against the two.
It appears that the incident happened inside an apartelle in Barangay Socorro, Cubao last May 18 but was only discovered by the complainant on Monday morning, prompting him to seek help from authorities.
Personnel of Novaliches Police Station (PS-4) under P/Lt. Col. Rossel Cejas immediately responded to the report which led to the rescue of the child and apprehension of his mother at their house in Bistek Ville 11, Barangay Sta. Monica.
A follow-up operation was also conducted by joint operatives of PS-4 and Cubao Police Station (PS-7) at about 2 p.m. the same day which resulted in the arrest of Ramores.
The two are now under police custody and were charged for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The child will be turned over to QC Social Services and Development Department (SSDD) for custody.
Meanwhile, NCRPO Director P/Maj. Gen.Guillermo Eleazar said there is a clear indication that this was not the first time it happened.
“Nakita natin na ‘yung bata ay alam na alam kung paano uminom o tumungga ng alak doon sa bote. At the same time, pati ‘yung paghithit sa sigarilyo, kitang kita na marunong ‘yung bata,” Eleazar told ABS-CBN.