Kaso ng bullying, iaapela na sa Dept. of Justice…ALFRED, itutuloy at hindi isusuko ang laban para sa anak (ni: ROHN ROMULO) 

NADISMAYA at labis na ikinalungkot ni Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas at kanyang pamilya sa muling pagbasura ng Manila City Prosecutor’s Office ang inihaing Motion for Reconsideration para sa kasong isinampa nila ng asawang si Yasmine Espiritu laban sa mag-asawang Rob Sy at Juvelle Bacosa.

Bahagi ng Facebook post ng aktor na si Rob, “Masusing sinuri ng tatlong (3) Public Prosecutors, kasama ang Chief City Prosecutor ng Manila ang naunang Resolusyon ng dalawang (2) City Prosecutors na nag-dismiss sa kaso, at kanila rin pinagtibay ang nasabing Resolution at madiing tinaggihan ang apela nila.”

Kaya naman muling naglabas ng saloobin si Konsehal Alfred, tungkol sa naging desisyon ng korte sa inihain nilang apela.

Mababasa sa caption ng mahabang Facebook post ng aktor at public servant, “KUNG ANG MATIBAY NA EBIDENSYA AT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AY MADALING IBASURA SA PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION PA LANG, ANONG MENSAHE ANG GUSTO NATING IPARATING? NA OK LANG I-TRIVIALIZE ANG TRAUMA NG ISANG BATA?”

Panimula ng statement ng actor, “It’s a sad day for our family, but we continue to hold our heads high. “Napakasakit para sa amin bilang mga magulang na mabalitaan na na-deny ang aming Motion for Reconsideration. Masakit dahil tila binalewala pa rin ang mga matitibay na ebidensyang inihain namin.” 

Pagpapatuloy niya, “Contrary to what the ruling claims, we did not rely on mere speculation. We presented clear, categorical, and positive testimonies from multiple independent eyewitnesses who personally saw how our 7-year-old son was clearly bullied and abused.

“We even submitted an official Psychiatric Evaluation Report from St. Luke’s Medical Center diagnosing our child with Adjustment Disorder, proving the severe trauma, anxiety, and deep fear he is carrying. 

“Paano nilang nasabi na walang ebidensya?” 

Sa paniwala ng aktor, may pagkakamali sa panig ng korte, “We firmly maintain that the Office of the City Prosecutor committed a grave error and an injustice by applying the wrong framework to dismiss our complaint. 

“This is not a simple case of school playground bullying governed by the administrative rules of RA 10627. The incident happened in a public, competitive swimming event. We filed a criminal complaint under Republic Act No. 7610 (Child Abuse Law).  

“Maling-mali na idahilan na dahil ‘single incident’ lang ito at walang napatunayang “criminal intent” ang mga magulang ay idi-dismis na ang kaso.

“Under RA 7610, child abuse covers psychological and emotional maltreatment ‘whether habitual or not’. The law protects children from conditions prejudicial to their development. 

“By demanding strict proof of the respondents’ subjective intent to degrade our son, the resolution completely turned a blind eye to the parents’ legal duty of supervision and their complacency in tolerating the harmful behavior of their child.”

Paninindigan pa niya, “This is no longer just about us. This fight is for all the victims of bullying who suffer in silence, and for all the parents who choose to stand up and protect their children’s dignity. 

“Kung ang mga matitibay na ebidensya at medikal na diagnosis na katulad ng sa anak namin ay madaling ibasura sa preliminary investigation pa lang, anong mensahe ang ibinibigay natin sa lipunan? 

“Na okay lang i-trivialize ang trauma ng isang bata? 

“Bakit hirap makahanap ng hustisya para sa mga inaapi at inaabuso? Ang hustisya ba ay para lang sa mga nambubully?

“Yan ang personal na bigat na nararamdaman naming pamilya ngayon.”

Panghuli ng kanyang mensahe, malinaw na hindi sila susuko hanggang sa makamit ang hustisya para sa kanilang anak.

“We will not back down. We will continue to fight for what is right and exhaust all available legal remedies, including elevating this matter to the Department of Justice. 

“May tiwala pa rin kami sa ating justice system, at lalong-lalo na sa katotohanan ng aming ipinaglalaban. 

“We will seek justice for our son until the very end,” pahayag pa ni Alfred, at kasama ang hashtag na #NoToBullying