DSWD may take custody of baby repeatedly slapped by mom in video

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon 'Dinky' Soliman confirmed on Friday that a social worker was sent to assess the mother seen slapping her newborn child in a video that went viral on social media the previous day.

 

"Mag-coordinate at i-assess, tingnan ang kalagayan ng nanay kung may kakayahan siyang mag-alaga ng isang sanggol. Kasi kung wala siyang kakayahan, kukunin muna namin 'yung sanggol," Soliman said in "24 Oras" report.

 

The video by a certain Nilo Sabangan, which had more than 900,000 views as of Friday night, showed a woman slapping a crying child lying beside her in a hospital bed.

 

Soliman said that the mother in the video may be suffering from postpartum depression in addition to a previous psychological condition.

 

The DSWD secretary said the hospital will also be made accountable for the incident.

 

"Nagagalit ako na bakit ang isang ospital na 'di rin nakikita at naaalagaan 'yung bata, isa 'yun at pangalawa kinakailangan na kung may ganoong nangyayari, mahinto at kaagad na kunin 'yung baby," Soliman said.

 

The hospital refused to give a statement to GMA News, said it is willing to cooperate with the DSWD's investigation. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News