Legal Success: 40-year Old Man Man Convicted for Child Abuse
April 20, 2018 · By Francisco B. Bermido, Jr.
Legal Success: 40-year Old Man Man Convicted for Child Abuse
Francisco B. Bermido, Jr.
Then 40-year old Danilo Sumpay was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Violation of Article VI, section 10 (a) of Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Abuse Law and was sentenced by Judge Ma. Cristina J. Mendoza-Pizarro on 10 April 2018 to suffer the penalty of prision mayor and to pay the child victim moral damages in the amount of P50,000.
The victim, Jenny, was only 15 years old when the abuser pursued her by sending her text messages and going out with her on dates. According to the judge, “these acts of pursuits, to adults, are normal BUT NOT to children who by reason of their age are gullible and impressionable.” The judge further said that “the accused apparently took advantage of the innocence and gullibility of the minor instead of trying to guide and nurture the well-being of these fragile members of our society.” She stressed that “the mere keeping or having in a man’s companion a minor, 12 years or under or who is ten years or more his junior in any public or private place already constitutes child abuse” so all the more is sexual union with a minor considered child abuse.
The Preda Foundation assisted the minor-victim Jenny in filing the legal complaint against Danilo Sumpay. Now an empowered young woman at 21 years of age, she is one of the scholars of Preda who is now pursuing a college degree.
