Actress Claudine Barretto recently appeared at the NBI Cybercrime division, where she filed a report against a netizen who posted offensive comments against her adopted daugher, 2-year-old Quia.
The netizen, identified by Barretto as Peggy Enriquez, had apparently called Claudine's newly adopted daughter ugly and "batang lansangan" (street kid).
GMA news reports that Claudine filed a complaint in the hope that it will send a message to cyberbullies.
"She (Quia) cannot talk. She cannot defend herself. God gave her to me and it's my duty and responsibility to be a mother and to protect my child," she told reporters, adding that the cyberbully obviously wants to pick a fight with her.
"Kung kaya niya gawin ito sa isang artista na may mga koneksyon, ano pa kaya ang ordinaryong tao na ang ibu-bully mo? And what does that say of a person na ang bata, iba-bash mo, tatawagin mong pangit at batang lansangan? Naghahanap ka ng gulo."
"I cannot fight all the battles of my children but those that I'm supposed to fight because they're young and they have no voice, I will. 'Pag anak mo na ang tinira, wala tayong sinasanto'."
A post shared by Claudine Barretto (@claubarretto) on
Despite the fact that the netizen wanted to make a public apology, Claudine remains adamant, not swayed from pushing through with the complaint.
"It's too late. If she did it the first day, second day (after the incident) but right now?" she said in an interview with Sunstar. "I cannot fight all the battles of my children but those that I'm supposed to fight because they're young and they have no voice, I will. 'Pag anak mo na ang tinira, wala tayong sinasanto'."
Netizens quickly came to the actress and mom-of-three's defense.
"I feel for you. Kapag ang anak mo talaga nilait sasama talaga loob ng isang ina. Tama yan para tumigil ang mga basher sa panlalait. God bless you and your family," wrote Instagram user @ana_lorie22.
"That's a very mean thing to say to a child. It does not matter kahit san pa galing ang bata, mayaman o mahirap. No mother will tolerate this kind of behavior towards their children or family," echoed user @jamieforlyf.
According to chief Martini Cruz of the NBI Cybercrime division Enriquez may be charged with violations against the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (Republic Act 9262) and Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act 7610).
Claudine has two other kids with ex-husband Raymart Santiago--13-year-old Sabina (who was also adopted) and a biological son named Santino, 10.
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