Senators Alan Peter “Compañero” and Pia Cayetano on Sunday emphasized that friction between separated parents is not a valid reason to deny the other parent their visitation rights.
However, the parent with custody has the authority to determine the terms, which may include preventing the other parent from bringing a “third party” during visits with their children.
In the fourth episode of Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda’s (CIA with BA) season two, Senators Alan and Pia helped untangle the conflicted co-parenting situation of a separated couple with two young children.
While it was the father who filed the complaint, it later became evident that he had cheated on the woman while she was pregnant with their child, leading to their breakup and subsequent co-parenting arrangement.
Regarding whether the complainant has the right to visit his children despite the breakup, Senator Alan affirmed that anger is not a legal justification to keep the children away from the other parent.
“The general rule is kapag magkahiwalay [kayo] pero pareho niyong anak [ang mga bata], hindi mo pwedeng ipagkait na makita, makapiling, at makilala [nila] y’ung nanay o tatay,” the senator said.
Senators Alan and Pia, however, sided with the mother’s desired terms and conditions for the visitations: first, that the biological father does not bring his new “wife,” and second, that he consistently provides sufficient financial support to the children.
“Masyadong masakit na nga kay [respondent] na tanggapin y’ung ginawa mo, pati ba naman y’ung girlfriend mo pinepresenta mo na siya ang magiging nanay?” Senator Pia told the father.
“Kailangan nila ng tatay pero hindi nila kailangan ng madrasta dahil mayroon silang nanay,” Senator Alan said.
Senator Pia also urged the man to make sure his new partner will honor the mother of his children.
“Ibig sabihin, rerespetuhin mo, kung anong pangangailangan niya pipilitin mong maibigay, at huwag na siyang makialam,” she told him.
After urging the two to honor each other’s rights as biological parents, Senators Alan and Pia offered them opportunities to better fulfill the needs of their children. They vowed to provide the woman capital to start her own sari-sari store, and the man some help to find a better-paying and more stable job.
“Magalit ka kung hindi siya maging mabuting ama, pero ayokong masayang ang energy mo kung kulang ang naibibigay niya dahil may naibibigay ka [rin],” Senator Pia told the woman.
The father apologized to his former partner and agreed to the terms she has set.
“Humihingi ako sa’yo ng tawad. Gusto ko lang naman maging maayos ang mga anak ko eh, ayaw kong mapariwara talaga ang mga anak ko,” he told her.
CIA with BA represents an “evolution” of the radio and TV legal affairs program called “Compañero y Compañera,” which was hosted by the late Senator Rene Cayetano, the father of Senators Alan and Pia. The show aired from 1997 to 2001.
Through CIA with BA, the sibling-senators have a goal to not only “educate viewers about their rights” but also to find innovative solutions to the legal issues faced by Filipinos.
Stay updated on the show through its social media channels: @cayetanoinactionwithboyabunda on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
