By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on Wednesday said it directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate a viral social media post showing a 57-year-old bedridden grandmother being subjected to abuse.
In a statement, the NCSC said its regional office in Ilocos Region has coordinated with the NBI Region 1 for the immediate investigation and to secure the safety of the victim, who previously suffered a stroke.
The NCSC said perpetrators should be held “accountable for the abuse.”
NCSC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer lawyer Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said the abuse of senior citizens is sometimes overlooked since it happens in the privacy of one’s home and is committed by family relatives or persons who are tasked with taking care of the senior.
Gutierrez called on the lawmakers to “prioritize the passage of bills to strengthen the protection of the elderly from abuse.”
The NCSC also urged the public to report incidents of neglect or abuse of senior citizens, adding that taking care of the elderly is a collective responsibility of Filipinos. (PNA)
