RA 7610 APPROVED June 17, 1992 – Special Protection of Children against Child

Abuse (maltreatment), Exploitation (unfair treatment or use), and Discrimination

(bias) Act – refers to all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development. BEST
INTEREST OF THE CHILD is the paramount consideration.

• It shall be the policy of the State to protect and rehabilitate children gravely
threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect or will affect their
survival and normal development.

• Who are CHILDREN? Persons below eighteen (18) years of age, Or those
over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves
from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of
physical or mental disability or conditions;

- neglect- Means failure to provide, for reasons other than poverty,

adequate food, clothing, shelter, basic education or medical care (to
seriously endanger the physical, mental, social and emotional growth
and development of the child);
- CRUELTY
- Discipline administered by a parent or legal guardian to a child does not
constitute cruelty provided it is reasonable in manner and moderate in
degree and does not constitute physical or psychological injury as
defined herein;

- Exploitation - Children male & female, for money, profit or any

consideration or influence of adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct are deemed children exploited in
prostitution and other sexual abuse.

- MALTREATMENT - maybe habitual or not:

-
a) PHYSICAL ABUSE - lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal
injuries, or Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an
injured child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and
development or in his permanent incapacity or death;
b) PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE - Any act by deeds or words which debases,
degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a
human being; Means harm to a child’s psychological or
intellectual/functioning which may be exhibited by severe anxiety,
depression, withdrawal or outward aggressive behavior or a
 combination of said behavior; May be demonstrated by a change in
behavior, emotional response or cognition
c) SEXUAL ABUSE - Includes the employment, use, persuasion,
inducement, enticement or coercion of a child to engage in, or assist
another person to engage in, sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
or the molestation, prostitution or incest with children
d) ECONOMIC ABUSE - Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for
survival, such as food and shelter,

Attempt to Commit child Prostitution (2 degrees lower from the crime to

commit)

1. any person, not a relative, found alone with the child inside the room,
cubicle of a house, in hotel, motel etc. vessel, vehicle or any hidden or
secluded area.
2. Any person receiving services from a child in a sauna parlor or bath,
massage clinic, health club etc.

Attempt to Commit Child Trafficking (2 degrees lower from the attempted

crime commit)

1. child travels alone to a foreign country, no valid reason, no clearance

from DSWD or written permit from parents or legal guardian.
2. pregnant mother executes affidavit of consent for adoption for
consideration
3. a person, agency, etc. recruits women or couples to bear children for the
purpose of child trafficking
4. a doctor hospital or clinic official or employee, nurse, midwife, local civil
registrar or any other person, simulates birth for the purpose of child
trafficking;
5. a person engages in finding children among low incomes families,
hospitals, clinics, nurseries, day care center etc. who can be offered for the
purpose of child trafficking

Other Acts or Abuse – neglect, abuse, cruelty exploitation and other

conditions prejudicial to the child’s development.
A. Article 59 of PD 603
1. abandonment, sell, neglects the child by not giving him the education
which family condition permit; 2. permits the truancy of the child; 3. using
the child for begging/ other acts inimical to his interest & welfare; 4. cruel
and unusual punishment; 5.causes the child to lead an immoral life; 6.
 permits the child to possess, handle, carry and deadly weapon; 7. allows or
requires the child to drive without license or with illegally procured license
(prision mayor minimum)
B. any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, 12 years old
or under or who is 10 years or more his junior in any public or private place.
(penalty prision mayor maximum)

C. any person who shall induce deliver or offer a minor to anyone to keep
or have in his company a minor
D. any person, owner, manager or one entrusted with the operation
of any public or private place of accommodation, who allows any person to
take along with him to such place/s any minor
E. any person who use force or intimidate a street child/any child to beg; act
as middleman in drug trafficking or any legal activities. (pres cor med to
rec pet)

LABOR - General Rule: Children below fifteen (15) years of age shall not
be employed.
• Exceptions: When a child works directly under the sole responsibility
of his parents and legal guardian and where only members of the
employer’s family are employed