School sues for child abuse parents of students who posted bikini photos on Facebook

After defying a court order and preventing five graduating students and their parents from attending their graduation ceremony, St. Theresa's College in Cebu City has filed a criminal complaint against the parents and a guardian of four of the girls, who had posted "lewd" photos of themselves on Facebook. 

 

Cebu Daily News said in a report on May 1 that STC Directress Sister Purisima Pe, ICM, Assistant Principal Mussolini Yap and three alumni members filed the criminal complaint with the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office, for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act in relation to Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code.

 

"Under RA 7610, in relation to Art. 59 of PD 603, parents who cause or encourage their children to lead immoral or dissolute lives are criminally liable for child abuse. Parents are required to keep their children away from vices and harmful acts such as smoking and drinking," reads a press statement from STC counsel Atty. Bernardito A. Florido and Atty. Joan Largo, which was posted by Sun Star Cebu.

 

Saying the parents are indispensable partners of the school, STC noted that "parents are and should be held primarily liable for the liability arising from criminal offenses committed by their minor children under their legal authority or control," as the Supreme Court held in the case of Libi vs Intermediate Appellate Court, GR No. 70890, September 18, 1992.

 

According to the statement, STC wishes to "affirm the overriding responsibility of parents to partner with the school in molding their children into persons of character and integrity.”

 

“For them to file a case and accuse parents with this grave offense is inviting another charge. Filing that ridiculous complaint speaks a lot about who they are,” the parents' lawyer Cornelio Mercado said as quoted by Cebu Daily News.

 

Earlier, a lawsuit was filed against the school by the mother of one of the students, for allegedly barring her daughter from attending the graduation rights. 

 

The Cebu City Regional Trial Court issued a temporary restraining order against the school's imposition of sanctions that would have barred the girl's attendance, but STC ignored the TRO. –CGL/KG, GMA News