Vote on spanking ordinance deferred again

APPROVAL of the proposed Cebu City ordinance banning corporal punishment for children hit a snag over differing views on parental liability.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said parents should be exempted from liability.

“Spanking the behind of a child – is that a prohibited act? We do not even ask the parents if the spanking is reasonable or not,” Daluz said.

He said penalties should only apply to teachers or yayas who inflict physical abuse or humiliate a child.

The proposed ordinance was set for approval on third and final reading.

Voting on the measuree authored by Councilors Leah Japson, Alvin Dizon, Margot Osmeña and John Philip Po II was deferred for the second time over this unsettled issue in the regular session on Wednesday.

“If we know how to discipline our children, why would we even fear the ordinance?” Japson asked.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young called for a postponement of the passage of the ordinance to next week’s session.

He asked Daluz to sit down with sponsors of the draft ordinance to address his concerns.