Manila, April 9 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday appealed for stronger community structures to protect the elderly following the recent incident in Antipolo, Rizal where an elderly person with disability was mocked by four men.

"Let this incident be a reminder to all that our senior citizens have rights that are protected by the State. Hindi pwede yung bibiru-biruin at parang pinaglalaruan sila porke hindi na sila malakas physically para umangal (It is unacceptable for them to be made fun of or mocked just because they cannot defend themselves anymore)," Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.

Dumlao encouraged local government units (LGUs) to replicate the agency's Reporting Syste...