Senate inquiry into QC orphanage closure sought

HAVEN UNDER SCRUTINY Charity Heppner Graff (right), executive director of Gentle Hands
Inc. that runs an orphanage in Quezon City, hugs and addresses her GHI wards before they were
moved out of the facility following a cease-and-desist order by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA,  Philippines— Opposition Senator Risa  Hontiveros is proposing a Senate inquiry into the Department of Social  Welfare and  Development’s (DSWD) issuance of a cease and desist order (CDO)  against a private orphanage in Quezon City. 

The probe to be conducted by the  Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality being headed by Hontiveros is being sought through her  Senate  Resolution No. 643 she filed this  Monday.

In the resolution,  Hontiveros  cited the removal of 149   children from Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI) following the CDO  issued last week by the DSWD for various violations, such as overcrowding and sanitation concerns.

The children were transferred to state-run facilities in Mandaluyong City, Quezon City, and  Muntinlupa City.

“According to GHI, the actions of the DSWD were traumatizing for the children, many of whom already suffer from the wounds of abandonment and abuse,” Hontiveros said in the resolution.

Many of these children, she said, also have specific needs, including some who require medical attention and psycho-social counseling.

“While the safety and adequacy of living standards are important concerns, it is also important to determine whether or not the correct processes were followed in the removal of the children from a  child care facility subject to a CDO, and whether or not these processes are informed by the best interests of the child doctrine,” the senator stressed.

Hontiveros  said it is imperative for the Senate  “to exercise the  necessary  oversight to  check adherence to  state policies and most importantly, to ensure that the best interest of the child [is] always upheld.”

The issuance of the CDO against the GHI  stemmed from a private individual’s complaint that the orphanage violated Republic Act No. 7610  or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

DSWD  officials led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian confirmed some of these violations when they conducted a surprise visit to the orphanage. 

“The worst part of it all is [when] we saw the fire exits, and they were sealed or had grills. That was not acceptable to us. That’s a walking fire trap,” according to  Gatchalian.

He also pointed out that the orphanage housed 149 children when it was supposed to accommodate only 80.

 gsg/abc