A family court judge yesterday said relatives of the 9-year-old girl in the center of a child abuse case should be allowed to visit her.
Judge Olegario Sarmiento of the the Cebu Regional Trial Court asked the parties to try to reach a compromise even as he deferred ruling on the petition for habeas corpus filed by the girl’s family.
The girl, who was taken under the custody of the Department of the Social Work and Develoment (DSWD), after she was seen in the company of a 67-year-old Swedish at the Cebu pier last month according to port police.
The judge ordered the girl’s uncle and sister Mary Jane Mitra-Evangelista, the petitioners for the writ of habeas corpus against the DSWD and Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to try resolving the issue of visitation to the minor.
The court ruled that relatives should be allowed to visit the girl who was taken into custody by authorities after she was found in the company of a 67-year-old Swedish national last Feb. 21.
Magpale, co-chairperson of the Provincial Women’s Commission refused to release the minor to the petitioners because they failed to present documents to support their claim that they were the gril’s blood relatives.
The judge gave the parties time to come up with a compromise agreement but ruled that relatives should be allowed to visit the child who is under the care of the DSWD.
The next hearing is set on March 30.
A writ of habeas corpus is a special civil action asking the court to issue an order to bring before the court the person petitioned.
During a hearing yesterday morning, lawyer Santiago Ortiz requested the court to allow relatives of the girl to visit her.
Cebu Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla said the petitioners should submit a list of names of those who shall be allowed to visit the girl.
Martinquilla said the visitation should be done during reasonable time and date.
The Swedish national is facing charges in court for allegedly violating Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Act, particularly on the provisions on sexual abuse and “keeping company” with a minor who is not a relative or a legal ward.
The girl’s parents have not yet shown up.
The suspect was released from detention after he posted P320,000 bail.
Magpale requested the Bureau of Immigration to stop the suspect from leaving the country.