Shocking!! Shameful

A CHILD abuse charge was filed against a grandmother who allegedly connived with her son-in-law in withholding financial aid to her daughter and her two sons.

A charge for violating Republic Act 7610, otherwise known the Anti-Child Abuse law, was filed against Maria (not her real name) after her daughter accused her of psychological and economic abuse.

A bail bond of P24,000 was recommended for Maria.

Maria reportedly connived with her daughter’s estranged husband in refusing to give financial aid to her and her two sons.

In her complaint, Almira (not her real name), a resident of Cebu City, said that long before she filed the case, she and her husband, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait, had a good relationship.

When Almira’s husband was first deployed to Kuwait as a waiter, he was a consistent provider, always sending financial support to her and their two kids, until 2004.

When he was redeployed in 2004, she noticed that the financial support sent to her and her sons was becoming less consistent.

She ignored the matter at first, but the support even became less frequent over the next months.

It was only when she sought assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that her husband resumed sending financial support.

From 2004 to 2006, the support became less frequent again until it eventually stopped.

In 2010, Almira received a package from her husband, containing assorted items. It was then that she discovered that her husband was sending money to another woman from 2007 to 2008.

She also discovered that her mother was secretly corresponding with her husband. Almira wondered why her mother asked for money from her husband when she could have given her money if she wanted.

Her husband admitted the woman he was sending money was his girlfriend. She was hurt, but she forgave him.

Last year, their relationship soured further after Almira’s husband told her he didn’t care about her anymore.

She also found out that her husband was not sending money to her directly, but through her mother Maria.

Almira brought the matter to the barangay, where she found out that her mother had told her husband she had a lover.

Maria also used the money she received from Almira’s husband to pay her own debts, instead of using it for her daughter and grandsons.

Maria denied the allegations.

In his resolution, Cebu City Prosecutor I Eulogio Borres Jr. found probable cause to file charges against Maria. He said her denials were unsupported by evidence.

Almira’s husband has yet to file a counter-affidavit