Penalize Non-payment of Child Support

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA SAID THAT WILLFUL FAILURE OF A PARENT TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT SHOULD BE PUNISHABLE BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610 OR THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION ACT AND PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 603 AS AMENDED OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE CODE.
Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 1338 to defend the right of the child.
The proposal is to include the willful failure to pay child support.
“Child support refers to any amount determined by a court judgement, decree or order to be due from a person for the support and maintenance of a child.”
Legarda’s bill provides that any person who willfully fails to pay child support shall be punished by prision correccional under the Revised Penal Code if such an obligation has remained unpaid for at least one year or has an outstanding amount due of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00).
“A law punishing the willful failure to pay child support must therefore be enacted,” Legarda concluded.