Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is now seeking a Senate inquiry into the alleged cases of child abuse committed by an American pastor and founder of a child care facility in Pampanga.

About 160 children rescued from the New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga Inc. are undergoing assessment by social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 3 (DSWD-Central Luzon) after some reported experiencing physical, verbal, and psychological abuse. Following the assessment, DSWD will provide appropriate interventions such as psychosocial support and protective services to help the children heal from their trauma and ensure their safety. (DSWD Photo)

Hontiveros, head of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, filed Senate Resolution No. 77, asking the Senate to look into the alleged cases of child abuse involving 156 children who were under the custody of one Pastor Jeremy Ferguson of the New Life Baptist Church in Mexico, Pampanga.

The investigation will also look into all the other abuses and mismanagement committed in orphanages and other alternative care facilities in the country.

“Preliminary accounts reveal that the children lived under abusive conditions, with some reportedly suffering from physical, verbal and psychological abuse, thereby, constituting acts of child abuse under Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” Hontiveros said in her resolution.

“A complaint filed by two 12-year old boys, as represented by their guardians and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) alleged that Pastor Ferguson ‘made them kneel for long periods, fed them spoiled food and deprived them of play’,” the senator cited.

Aside from issues of child abuse, the lawmaker pointed out that the DSWD also found the religious organization violating the DSWD Registration, License to Operate and Accreditationi standards and was operating the shelter under conditions that exposes the children to fire hazards, mismanagement of funds and improper case management.

This prompted the DSWD to issue a 30-day cease and desist order on the said child-care facility.

“There is an urgent need to revisit existing laws and policies, including but not limited to RA 7610 and other related statutes, to ensure stronger safeguards for children placed in social welfare and development agencies like NLBCMPI, and other similar facilities,” she said.

“The reported incident underscores the necessity of a comprehensive review of accreditation, monitoring, and regulation mechanisms for public and private institutions that assume custody of minors to prevent similar abuses from recurring,” the senator reiterated.

As of this time, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has put Ferguson under its watchlist, preventing him from leaving the Philippines.