CALLING the anti-spanking ordinance “unfair” and “oppressive”, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday vetoed the measure.
The ordinance which prohibits “any form of physical and humiliating or degrading punishment” against children has to be replaced with an ordinance “that shall not create a society of juvenile delinquents and a society that frowns on parental authority,” said Rama in his veto letter.
Rama said the new ordinance should consider Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Act of 2006.
“The current ordinance could be a handicap in implementation (of the juvenile justice law) no matter how well is its intention.”
A copy of the two-page letter which he signed yesterday was sent to the city council secretariat.
Councilor Leah Japson, one of the principal authors of the ordinance, said would reserve her comments until she reads a copy of the mayor’s veto.