It is high time that a law that would address this menace plaguing and endangering the basic foundations of our society must be enacted.
A bill proposing the imposition of penalties on acts constituting violence and abuse against the elderly has been filed at the House of Representatives.
In the explanatory note of House Bill 4980, or the “Protection of the Elderly Act,” Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon said the elderly is one of the most vulnerable sectors of the society.
“It is high time that a law that would address this menace plaguing and endangering the basic foundations of our society must be enacted.”
“We must provide our elderly the environment to enable them to live the sunset of their lives in safety, comfort and most especially with dignity and respect.”
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The bill defines violence against the elderly as “any act or series of acts committed by any person against an elderly which result in or likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.”
The crime of violence against the elderly is committed through any of the following acts: causing physical harm, threatening to cause physical harm and attempting to cause physical harm to the elderly; placing the elderly in fear of imminent physical harm and inflicting or threatening to inflict physical harm on oneself for the purpose of controlling the actions or decisions of the elderly.
Causing or attempting to cause the elderly to engage in any sexual activity and causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the elderly, including, but not limited to repeated verbal and emotional abuse and denial of financial support are also included among the prohibited acts.
In addition, the bill penalizes neglect and exploitation of the elderly, where neglect is the failure of the person tasked with caring for the elderly to “provide care, supervision and services necessary to maintain the elderly person’s physical and mental health, including, but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the wellbeing of the elderly person.”
