REPUBLIC Act (RA) 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, envisages shielding children — one of the most vulnerable sectors of society — from abuse and exploitation. And for anyone to willfully put the lives and limbs of 14 young students in peril and whose actions exposed them to situations prejudicial to their development will be held liable under the law.

In the case of People of the Philippines v. Saturnino Ocampo, France Castro et al., Acting Presiding Judge Jimmy Boco of Regional Trial Court Branch 2 of Tagum City has found former Bayan Muna Party-list representative Satur Ocampo, Association of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and 11 others guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 10(a), Article VI of RA 7610. They were sentenced to suffer four years, nine months and 11 days of prision correccional as a minimum to six years, eight months and one day of prision mayor as a maximum. They were also made to pay P20,000 in civil and moral damages to each victim.