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Domestic Violence Task force backs intervention agencies on case vs. Cing
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Posted on Nov 02 2000
The Family Violence Task Force yesterday said it empathizes with state-owned intervention agencies as the institutions now face the heat for allegedly “mishandling” a domestic abuse case involving Sen. David M. Cing of Tinian.
Task Force Program Coordinator Laura Tenorio Flores pitched her support to the Division of Youth Services, the Tinian public high schools and the legal system, citing the agencies were performing an obligation mandated by law.
“When individuals are at risk, they are mandated by law to intervene. The main objective is to ensure the welfare of children and those at risk are preserved,” said Ms. Flores.
Mr. Cing last week disclosed plans to probe government agencies he claimed overstepped their responsibilities when they intervened in his family affairs. The beleaguered senator has recently been issued a temporary restraining order after his wife filed a petition before the Superior Court on claims that he was an abusive father and husband.
In a news conference held last week, Mr. Cing chided DYS, the Tinian Junior and Senior High Schools, and the legal system for their alleged “negligence” in the handling of the domestic dispute.
As advocates for the protection of victims of family violence, the task force aired support for the actions taken by the intervening agencies.
“We’re not here to break up families, we’re here to protect the best interest of the party at risk,” she said.
She also expressed hopes that the system deal with the case fairly and not exercise preferential treatment just because the alleged perpetrator is a legislator.
“Intervention is always a tough call and DYS is put in a difficult situation every time cases like these arise. But we don’t claim it to be a perfect system. In some instances, they could make inaccurate judgments. But this is only because they are after the welfare of those at risk,” she explained.
Mr. Cing’s domestic violence case came at the heights of the Family Violence Task Force month-long celebration which culminated last Saturday through well-attended candlelight vigil calling for an end to the escalating cases of family violence in the Commonwealth.
