Senate bill refiled penalizing negligent kids of elderly parents

Panfilo Lacson —Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson has refiled his bill that seeks to penalize children for abandoning or failing to provide the necessary support needed by their elderly, sick or incapacitated parents.

The proposed “Parents Welfare Act of 2025,” which Lacson filed in previous Congresses, aims to further strengthen filial responsibility and make flagrant violations a criminal offense.

“Abandonment of a parent in need of support shall constitute a criminal act,” the senator said, adding that even though Filipinos were known for their close family ties, there remain cases of parents being abandoned by their children.

READ: Disciplining kids becomes child abuse if it harms dignity, says SC

Lacson noted that while the Family Code imposes legal obligations to support the elderly, some of them still end up being neglected or ignored by their family.

Legal recourse

Under the bill, parents in need of help may file a petition before a court, which will issue a support order against their children who failed or refused to provide them assistance.

Lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office shall represent the parents in court, and no court fees will be assessed.

To preserve family unity and peace, the court shall refer the parties to a conciliation officer for mediation prior to hearing the petition.

The bill also provides for a support order to compel children to provide the necessary support to their parents. The order will be immediately executory, and no temporary restraining order or injunction shall be issued by any court, except the Supreme Court, to stop it from taking effect.

Respondents who fail to give financial support for three consecutive months to their parents without any justifiable cause may face imprisonment ranging from one month to six months or a fine of P100,000.

Those who abandon their parents who are in need of support may also be imprisoned from six years to 10 years and fined P300,000.

At the same time, Lacson’s bill also seeks to establish an “Old Age Home” for elderly, sick or otherwise incapacitated parents in every province and highly urbanized city. /cb