“The horror and disgust that I felt when I realized that my child was taken away from me made me sick to my stomach,” said Marie, not her real name.

Marie, 18 years old from Tagaytay City and estranged from her common-law husband, Ruben, not his real name, and 28 years old, shared that since their relationship gone sour and Mike relocated to his hometown in Pamplona, Cagayan, she continued with her studies through Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“I was in my class at our barangay hall when he arrived and requested to see our daughter who is barely 2 years old, to which I obliged. After class, I came home to my parents’ house looking for them but to no avail. I tried calling him but the same proved futile,” Marie narrated.

She sought the help of police authorities in their locality but was told that her ex-partner has every right to take their daughter as he is the father and refused to take her statements and have them on record.

Dismayed, she turned to the radio program of a media personality, was endorsed to a police station in Manila and to the police station in Tuguegarao City and Pamplona, Cagayan. The Tuguegarao City police office then referred Marie’s case to DSWD Field Office 02.

Maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo

Two days after the said abduction, the Field Office took cognizance of Marie’s case when Marie requested for an intervention. Ms. Mylene Attaban, Social Welfare Officer III and Head of the Crisis Intervention Unit, coordinated with the Local Government Unit of Pamplona, Cagayan through the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the Philippine National Police in Pamplona through the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) and the barangay officials where Mike resides.

“It is always a challenge to mediate in domestic issues particularly when it concerns a minor, however, as a Social Worker, we are guided by the principle that in all cases involving a minor, we have to put the best interest of the child at the forefront,” Ms. Attaban said.

With the intercession of Ms. Attaban and all local authorities present, Ruben relented and turned over custody of their child to Marie. The parties also reached an agreement relative to the care of their child.

“Under Philippine law, no child under seven years of age shall be separated from the mother, unless the court finds compelling reasons to order otherwise and since  the parties are not married, the law vests parental authority over the illegitimate child to the mother,” explained Ms. Attaban.

Ms. Attaban likewise enlightened Ruben on the implications of taking away their child without the consent of her former common-law wife.

“I cannot thank DSWD enough for wasting no time to facilite the recovery of my child. I came to DSWD’s office after a 10-hour bus ride, with no sleep and peace of mind for two days. The staff offered us food while facilitating assessment of my case, made us comfortable through all the whole process and saw to it that we are able to board on our bus for Manila on that same day I arrived, with my child safely tuck in my arms,” shared Marie. ## By: GELA FLOR R. PEREZ, RIO II