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Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas and his wife, Yasmine, filed a criminal complaint on Monday against the parents of a minor who allegedly bullied and abused their son.
Alfred Vargas via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Actor-politician Alfred Vargas will continue to seek justice for his son despite a legal hurdle not shifting in his family's favor.
It can be recalled that last month, Vargas and his wife Yasmine Espritu filed a criminal complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila against actor Rob Sy and his wife Juvelle Bacosa whose son allegedly bullied and abused the Vargases' son during swimming activities.
The complaint claimed respondents violated Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The legal action stems from a pattern of conduct where the respondents' child repeatedly pushed and held the Vargases' son underwater during swimming training sessions.
However, earlier this week, the Manila Prosecutor's Office dismissed the complaint, citing insufficient evidence or prima facie to establish criminal liability against Sy and his wife.
Sy welcomed the ruling in an official statement posted on Facebook and backed his son against bullying accusations, "Hindi bully ang aming anak at sinisiguro namin na siya ay aming pinapalaki ng maayos, at kung nagkakamali ay aming itinatama at dinidisiplina."
The actor went on to call the allegations against his family simply "based on speculation" and the complaint was a "narrative reversal" using "media portrayals and emotional theatrics rather than objective facts and actual evidence."
"Umasa kami sa tahimik ngunit matibay na bigat ng objective truth, verified clinical psychological evaluations, at institutional validation mula sa mga tamang awtoridad," Sy also said before thanking the Manila Prosecutor's Office, family members, peers, and the couple's lawyers.
"Moving forward, ang ultimate goal namin ay tuluyang ma-'fiireproof' ang aming anak mula sa epekto ng masakit na kabanatang ito," the actor ended. "Ang absolute priority namin ay protektahan ang kanyang kapayapaan, emotional security, at overall well-being, at siguraduhing lalaki siyang ligtas, matatag, at protektado ng katotohanan."
Vargas later acknowledged the resolution of the Manila Prosecutor's Office but is not giving up on seeking justice.
In his own statement on Facebook, the Quezon City councilor said that he and Espiritu "respect the law and due process and will continue to do so regardless of the outcome."
"In the same light, due process allows us to seek legal remedies," Vargas also said. "We will exert all available legal avenues to pursue justice for our child."
The actor-politician ended his statement thanking all those who prayed for his family, and reiterated the fight wasn't over yet. — with reports from Jan Milo Severo
RELATED: 'This is where it stops': Alfred Vargas, wife file case vs parents of alleged bully
