Laguna 1st District Representative Ann Matibag has filed a new measure in the House of Representatives seeking to protect senior citizens from abuse, neglect, and exploitation — a growing issue she describes as “urgent and disturbing.”
Filed during the early session of the 20th Congress, the proposed bill was inspired by the viral story of Cita N. Rodriguez, an 89-year-old philanthropist and retired accountant from Pampanga, whose case drew national attention after allegations surfaced that her own niece manipulated her mental and financial state to seize control of her assets.
“Tita Cita’s case was not an isolated one,” Matibag said in her remarks. “It is part of a larger, more disturbing pattern of elder abuse, one that our current legal system is ill-equipped to confront.”
Currently, elder abuse in the Philippines is addressed under general laws such as the Revised Penal Code or, in some cases involving women, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262). However, Matibag stressed that these legal frameworks are not tailored to the unique vulnerabilities and circumstances of aging Filipinos.
“Today, elder abuse cases are squeezed into existing laws — often under the Penal Code or RA 9262. But these laws, while important, do not account for the unique vulnerabilities of the elderly,” she explained.
The proposed measure aims to:
- Standardize legal definitions and remedies related to elder abuse,
- Strengthen mechanisms for prevention, reporting, and prosecution,
- And institutionalize support services for victims, including legal aid and protective care.
The bill is anchored on the 1987 Constitution’s provisions guaranteeing human dignity, respect for human rights, and special protection for vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens. It also acknowledges the State’s responsibility to intervene when the family — traditionally seen as the primary caregiver — becomes the source of harm.
Matibag appealed for bipartisan support, as well as backing from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), senior citizens’ groups, and advocates of elder rights.
“Let this bill not just be my measure, but our collective commitment,” she urged. “Let us show the nation that our love for our elders does not end with mano po. Let us give them not just the honor they are due, but the protection they so deeply deserve.”
The measure is expected to be referred to the appropriate House committee in the coming weeks for further deliberation.