If the abuser is my child's other parent, can I still file even though they're a parent?
Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Yes. RA 7610 §27(b) lists "parents or guardians" among those who may file a child-abuse complaint, without excluding a case where the other parent is the one accused. And under RA 7610 §27 generally, a parent is only one of seven filing routes — a barangay chairman, DSWD, a licensed child-caring institution, a relative within the third degree, or three concerned citizens can also act, none of which needs the abusive parent's cooperation.
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Frequently asked
Does naming the other parent as the abuser change who I file with?
The register doesn't describe a different filing venue for that scenario — RA 7610 §27 lists the same seven categories of filers regardless of who the alleged abuser is.
Could this affect a separate custody case between us?
That isn't addressed in this register — RA 7610 governs the child-abuse complaint and DSWD custody under §27/§28; how that interacts with a Family Code custody proceeding between parents is a distinct question this register doesn't answer.
Am I protected from being sued by the other parent for filing?
No — RA 7610 contains no statutory good-faith reporter immunity. Filing against the other parent does not come with a legal shield from a retaliatory suit, even if the report is true and made in good faith.
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How a child can be protected under RA 7610 without either parent's cooperation — who besides a parent may file, DSWD's immediate protective custody, the limits of a child's name being kept out of the public record, and the DSWD i-GRS online route.