Police in an upland barangay in the City of Naga in southern Cebu arrested a farmer for allegedly chaining his mentally-ill wife inside their house to prevent her from venturing outside.
The maltreatment, which officials of barangay Hagimit said had been ongoing for three years, was discovered after the woman managed to free herself from her shackles and sneak out of the house.
She was found roaming around the village with her feet still bound in dog chains.
A barangay councilman who was told about the woman’s presence called the police.
The woman’s mother told the police that the family knew about her situation.
She said her daughter started acting strangely after she suffered a miscarriage.
She said they agreed to have her chained as they could not afford to designate somebody to watch over her all the time.
She said they were also forced to resort to such measures to prevent the woman from hurting somebody.
Bevie Ababon, the city social welfare officer, said the woman was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.
Ababon said they would file charges against the husband who is now detained at the Naga City Police Office for maltreating his wife.