SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — A barangay chairman, and his kagawad in Balaoan town are in hot water after a video of them hitting a 14-year-old boy went viral.
Butubut Norte chair Jaime Ordinario and Kagawad Pablo Bayota, hit two minors after an altercation.
The video shows both officials hitting the minor twice, then kneeing him in the abdomen, causing the minor to collapse.
Interviews from a local radio station said the minors were visited by Ordinario and Bayota on June 5, Saturday, in response to complaints against the minors and their ‘gang’ allegedly causing trouble in their area.
Ordinario and Bayota, however, were met with ‘rude and arrogant’ remarks by the minors, causing the officials to hit them.
Unfortunately, the incident was caught on tape.
Major Rogelio Miedes, officer-in-charge of Balaoan Police Station, said they were not able to apprehend the respondents as the complainants reported the incident late.
The police are ready to file a case once the results of the medical examinations become available this week.
“Doon natin malalaman yung extent ng ifa-file natin na kaso”, said Miedes in a phone interview. “Serious or slight injuries, gaano katindi, depende sa medical result, pero automatically in relation pa rin sa RA 7610 (Child Abuse Law)”.
Miedes said he spoke with Ordinario and Bayota, with what occurred. While he understands what drove them to hurt the minors, what happened is unjustifiable.
“Hindi pa rin dapat saktan ang minors”, he added.
Meanwhile, Ordinario and Bayota are remorseful of what they did, and are asking for forgiveness.
The victims’ families, however, are determined to file the case against them.