On instructions of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the agency’s Field Office CALABARZON has conducted on Friday (April 4) a home visit in Antipolo City and provided appropriate services to the family of the elderly person with disability who was seen being mocked by four men in a video that went viral.

In a report to Secretary Gatchalian, DSWD Field Office CALABARZON said it has provided Php10,000 cash relief assistance, under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), to the family of the elderly.

“The cash assistance will be used to augment expenses for the medical needs of lola and in the filing of complaints,” Asst. Regional Director (ARD) Mylah Gatchalian of FO CALABARZON said in her report to the DSWD chief.

On Friday (April 4), upon learning of the incident, Secretary Gatchalian directed concerned agency officials to coordinate with the Antipolo City’s local government unit (LGU) in filing a criminal case against the group of men who made fun of the female senior citizen last March 31.

According to ARD Gatchalian, the family has already filed a complaint with their Barangay. But the family is determined to file criminal charges against the perpetrators in court.

In the Saturday News Forum on April 5, Secretary Gatchalian who was one of the resource speakers, reiterated his instruction to FO CALABARZON to help the family in the case build up.

The Field Office will then assist the family in the filing of the case through coordination with the Barangay of Dela Paz and the Antipolo City LGU.

Aside from the cash and legal assistance, ARD Gatchalian said the FO CALABARZON will also provide psychosocial support to the family.

For the medical needs of the elderly, the Field Office will facilitate referral services to appropriate medical institutions to assess her medical condition, according to the FO CALABARZON official. (MBM)