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8 answers

Protecting a Child

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.

Can I get my child taken away from danger even if my ex-husband refuses to agree?

Yes — the other parent's refusal does not block it. RA 7610 §27 names seven categories of people who may file a child-abuse complaint, and a parent is only one of them: the barangay chairman, an officer or social worker of the DSWD, a licensed child-caring institution, a relative within the third degree of consanguinity, or three concerned citizens may act without the other parent's agreement. RA 7610 §28 then requires the child be immediately placed under DSWD's protective custody.

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Does my child need both parents' permission to be protected from abuse?

No — a child doesn't need either parent's permission to be protected. RA 7610 §27 makes parents one filing route among seven, not a gate: a barangay chairman, DSWD, a licensed child-caring institution, a relative within the third degree, or three concerned citizens can each file a complaint on their own, and RA 7610 §28 places the child immediately under DSWD's protective custody once that happens.

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How many neighbours does it take to report abuse of a child, compared to an adult?

Three for a child. RA 7610 §27(g) lets at least three concerned responsible citizens where the violation occurred file a child-abuse complaint together — three neighbours are enough to carry it on their own, without the family. RA 9262 §9(h), the separate adult VAWC statute, sets a different threshold of two concerned citizens for a spousal or partner case, and the two numbers should never be swapped.

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If the abuser is my child's other parent, can I still file even though they're a parent?

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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Facing this yourself?

We pre-fill the BSP, SEC, DTI, and small-claims letters for you — and route you to the right regulator.

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