Text of the provision
Art. 233. The person exercising substitute parental authority shall have the same authority over the person of the child as the parents.
In no case shall the school administrator, teacher of individual engaged in child care exercising special parental authority inflict corporal punishment upon the child.
(n)
Family Code of the Philippines, Executive Order No. 209, approved July 6, 1987. The Code took effect on August 3, 1988 (Republic v. Orbecido III, G.R. No. 154380, October 5, 2005). Reproduced in full.
What this article means
Two rules. First, a person exercising substitute parental authority (a grandparent, sibling or custodian under Article 216) has the same authority over the child as a parent would.
Second — and categorically — those exercising special parental authority (school administrators, teachers, and individuals engaged in child care) may never inflict corporal punishment on a child in their charge. The prohibition is absolute: "in no case."
Related provisions
- Article 216 — who exercises substitute parental authority.
- Article 220 — the parental duty to discipline reasonably.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on Article 233 will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.