(UPDATE) Joe and Diana Suan, parents of the six-year-old Jan-Jan Suan, have filed on libel cases before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office earlier Wednesday, April 13, against bloggers John Silva and Froilan Grate, and child psychologist Dr. Lourdes Carandang.
Jan-Jan Suan is the six-year-old contestant in the March 12 episode of “Willing Willie” who allegedly performed a macho dancer dance routine. Last week, the show's host-producer Willie Revillame announced that the show will be off the air for two weeks due to the controversy.
According to the complaint-affidavit, Joe and Diana filed a case against Grate for making it appear that Jan-Jan is an “abused child” and that his family allowed Jan-Jan to be abused in exchange for money and fame.
“Ito rin ay nagdulot ng masamang epekto sa aming pamilya kasama na si Jan-Jan. Dati masaya ang aming pamilya at nabubuhay kami ng mapayapa... Ngayon, dahil sa mga nabanggit na pangyayari nasira ang karangalan naming pamilya at ng aming anak... Ang dati naming masaya at tahimik na pamumuhay ay biglang nagulo at nabulabog,” the Suans said through the complaint-affidavit.
In his email-complaint sent to a number of individuals and agencies, including Commission of Human Rights chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, senator Pia Cayetano, and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares, among others, Grate condemned the “blatant act of subjecting poor Filipinos—especially minors, a group that history has shown to be one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society—to humiliation in shows like these in exchange for some quick case.”
It added, “Given the financial hardships that they have to endure, they often feel forced to do acts that violate their dignity as human beings in exchange for keeping body and soul together.. We express disappointment towards the parents of th boy for subjecting their child to do this horrible experience.”
Silva, meanwhile, posted a blog entry on website which goes: “What do these companies, Willing Willie, Channel 5, and Pedophiles have in common? THEY LIKE DOING MACHO DANCING.”
The said post is in violation of Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, according to the complaint-affidavit.
Carandang, on the other hand, wrote a letter to Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares to “register our very strong condemnation of the child abuse shown” on “Willing Willie” by host Revillame. It also stated that that “abuse was done on a 6-year-old boy named Jan-Jan.”
The complaint-affidavit said that saying Jan-Jan was abused is an imputation of a vice or defect that caused dishonor, discredit, and contempt to their family and Jan-Jan.
Not abused
In a press conference held Wednesday at the Manila Golf Club in Forbes Park, Makati City, John Pineda, lawyer of Suans, said the couple believes no abuse was done to their child.
“Sila po ay naniniwala na walang pang-aabusong nangyari at sila ay di papayag, kahit sila ay mahirap, na maabuso ang kanilang anak ng sinoman. Gusto po nila na matigil ang lahat ng ito... Gusto nilang bumalik sa kanilang pribadong buhay. Ayaw po nila na magamit si Jan-Jan sa agenda ng kung sino-sinong tao,” Pineda said.
He added that the family does not want Jan-Jan to become a “poster child” for child abuse.
“Kung sinasabi po nila na na-child abuse ang anak, maling-mali po sila dun. Ako na po ang makakapagsabi sa inyo, maling-mali sila sa mga sinasabi nila. Tigilan na po nila ang pagsasabi ng ganun dahil napakasakit para sa isang ina na ang anak po nila ay tsina-child abuse. Sila po ang nagchi-child abuse sa anak ko di po nila alam ang totoo,” Diana Suan said.
“Hindi kami ang nang-aapi sa anak namin. Sila ang nang-aapi sa anak namin... Natatakot po kami sa mga sinasabi nila sa amin,” Joe Suan said.
Pineda said he is offering his services to Joe and Diana “pro bono,” adding he is a frequent customer at Joe's parlor in Quezon City.
He said the family is saddened that Carandang made a pre-mature conclusion before she even examined Jan-Jan.
“Ang kinasasama ng loob nung parents, may pre-mature conclusion even before a personal examination. Ang pamilya po ay di naniniwala na hindi kailangang makita ng isang sikolohista ang isang bata, matanong, ma-subject sa iba-ibang examination, ang magulang makausap. Even before she made a personal evaluation of the true and genuine situation of the child, nagkaroon na sya ng conclusion ng child abuse,” Pineda explained.
He added, “Hindi po papasa yung nangyari sa depinisyon ng batas yung maltreatment.”
Pineda also criticized Carandang and Rosales, who both said they believe Jan-Jan was abused.
“Ultimately, ang korte ang magsasabi kung naganap ang child abuse. Ang pagbabasehan ng korte ay hindi ang opinion ko, ang opinyon natin. Ang pagbabasehan ng korte ay ang batas. May pangmamaltrato bang nangyari? Yung pagsasayaw ba ni Jan-Jan ay pangmamaltrato? Yung pag-iyak ba ni Jan-Jan ay pangmamaltrato?” he said.
Joe Suan said they received an invitation from Carandang, but they declined, citing her earlier statements.
Pineda added that Jan-Jan already underwent a psychological evaluation. He also clarified that they are not refusing any help from the Department of the Social Welfare and Development but explained that the family is already undergoing counseling.
“Gusto naming makasigurado na at the end of the day, makakatulong sa pamilya at kay Jan Jan,” Pineda said of those offering assistance. “Nung pinalaki po nila si Jan Jan, wala po nitong media attention na ito. Wala pong ibang taong nakikialam sa kanila. Pagkatapos ng nainitan ng isyu na ito, sila po ang patuloy na magpapalaki kay Jan-Jan. Yung mga tao po bang nagcri-criticize sa kanila ay tutulong ba sa kanila? Pero sila po araw-araw na kasama ni Jan-Jan.”
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