On May 23, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) followed through with a cease and desist order issued to Gentle Hands Incorporated (GHI) on May 22nd for allegedly violating the Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse. They showed up with large buses and police armed with guns and proceeded to forcibly remove all 127 children from Gentle Hands orphanage, which these children consider to be their home.

 

 

GHI was given 20 days to address the cited violations (i.e. overcrowding, use of triple bunk beds and blocked fire exits), to which GHI immediately complied and completed a day later. Despite this, GHI staff and legal counsel find themselves unable to get the resolution they hope for due to the continually added renovations required, such as the need for a sprinkler/alarm system. This is something that GHI is unable to complete due to the fact that it opposes the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) previous order against major renovations. This is in relation to DOTr's ongoing project of expanding the subway line and GHI being marked for demolition. GHI is seeking to clarify this matter. 

Gentle Hands is a family, and these children have been torn away from their family, separated from one another and placed in other government institutions that undoubtedly do not adhere to the same standards of care that are cited in the very act they used to remove these kids from Gentle Hands. All of these children suffer from previous abuse, neglect or abandonment and these traumatizing events will likely trigger PTSD and impact many of them for the rest of their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines (ACCAP) stated their sentiments on May 24, that the children at GHI should have been the primary concern following its shutdown by DSWD and ACCAP president Gwen Pimentel-Gana noted that the sudden uprooting of the children was disturbing and very traumatic. She also said “I’m not generalizing but a lot of Reception and Study Centers for Children are also overcrowded. We cannot guarantee that the children will be doing much better there.” Government-run facilities in the Philippines are known for being overcrowded, undersupplied, and unsanitary with their own fire-safety violations. 

As of May 29, Senator Risa Hontiveros files Senate Resolution (PSR) No. 643 to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the cease and desist order issued by DSWD against GHI. According to Hontiveros, chairperson of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, the inquiry seeks to review " current policies on orphanages and child residential care facilities in the Philippines". DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian claims the closure of the orphanage was due to supposed lapses that could have been a "recipe for disaster". But Hontiveros said DSWD needed to explain further its action. 

 

 

It is not only the children that have been deeply wounded and traumatized by the actions of DSWD but also the staff and caregivers of GHI who love these children as their own. 

 

 

Please sign this petition, not only to encourage a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations against Gentle Hands, but also to protect these children and BRING THEM HOME to GHI.

For more information and access to news articles, visit https://wakelet.com/wake/zcFPLSG1pJ3F4vg9YNlKi

Please share any news you see with the hashtag #protectgentlehandskids to raise awareness about the injustice that’s happening and to help bring our kids home safely.