A bill proposing to impose stiffer prison sentences for various forms of abuses committed against a serious citizen has moved forward in the House of Representatives.

In its initial deliberation on 21 legislative measures filed by congressmen, the House Committee on Senior Citizens unanimously agreed to consolidate the bills and push for its approval.

Chaired by United Senior Citizens Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, the House panel moved quickly to act on the measure as lawmakers agreed that elderly abuse has become prevalent and often unreported in the country.

Magsaysay, author of House Bill No. 184, lamented that in many cases of physical and mental abuse committed against seniors, their own family members are the culprit.

On the other hand, Palawan Rep. Rosalie “Mommy Rose” Ang Salvame noted that “elderly abuse is vastly underreported” because victims fear retaliation. Some feel ashamed or are physically or mentally unable to report incidents to authorities.

“Protecting the elderly is a human rights issue - everyone deserves to live free from violence and abuse, neglect and exploitation. This legislation affirms society’s commitment to valuing older adults as equal members of the community,” explained Salvame.

The National Commission of Senior Citizens, as well as other government agencies, the Philippine National Police and big senior citizens federations, aired their strong support for the swift approval of the bill.

“I strongly endorse the holistic approach taken by these bills, which go beyond criminalizing physical violence to include psychological harm, neglect and financial exploitation,” said NCSC Chairperson Merceditas Gutierrez.

Gutierrez lauded lawmakers for including actions against digital abuse and online exploitation, stressing that members of the elderly community are mostly defenseless against cyberspace exploitation.

Valenzuela Rep. Gerald Cloyd Alexis V. Galang, committee vice chairman, undersc ored the urgency of passing laws that “establish stronger legal protection” for the country’s over 12 million senior citizens,.

In his bill, Galang sought longer prison terms for persons found guilty of domestic violence against a senior citizen.

For various levels of physical injuries, guilty parties face penalties that are a degree higher than existing prison terms provided by the Revised Penal Code.

Barangay officials or law enforcement officers who fail to respond to appeal for assistance or protection from a senior citizen victim also face imprisonment of up to one year. The court may also impose a fine of PhP5,000.

`Among the forms of abuse penalized under the bills are physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotioinal abuse and material or financial abuse.

Salvame pushed for penalties for neglect or lack of care of the elderly.

She explained that neglect may either be unintentional failure of persons tasked to take care of the senior citizen to “feed, provide shelter or health care or protection.”

“Deliberate withholding of items need for daily living, such as food, medicine, companionship and care, especially to those physically dependent must also be penalized,” the Palawan lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines-Quezon City president Jorge Banal lauded lawmakers for demonstrating their concern for the country’s senior citizens by acting promptly on the pending bills.