Violence Against Women Cases Up In Cebu City

Cases of violence against women (VAW) are on the rise in Cebu City and Cebu province.

In 2014, there were 568 physical injuries and 47 psychological abuse cases recorded in the city, according to records from the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) at Cebu City Police Office.

However, at the end of 2015, the number of cases rose to 846 for physical injuries and 125 for psychological abuse.

Although the official count has yet to be collated for the first two months this year, WCPC officials already noted an increase.

“Our reports are done quarterly, but for January and February this year, we already see an increase in the cases,” said PO3 Geneve Undalok of Cebu City WCPC during the Kapihan sa PIA held at the plenary hall of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) yesterday.

In Cebu province, VAW cases have also increased according to P/Sr. Insp. Marginette Yosores who heads the WCPC at Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Yosores said majority of the VAW cases recorded in her office are from Talisay City followed by Bogo City.

Both WCPC officers attribute the increase to higher awareness among women victims of domestic abuse on where to go and what they need to do to avail of the assistance from WCPC.

“The cases are strictly confidential. In fact, we have what we call as the pink blotter to log VAW cases. They are not recorded in the regular police blotter,” explained Yosores.

However, authorities note that VAW victims need to be more empowered as only a small percentage of abused women who seek the help of WCPC actually end up filing cases against their abusive partners.

Of the total cases handled by Cebu City’s WCPC, only around 16% of them file cases, said Undalok.

One reason for this is due to the women’s lack of financial independence, said Atty. Virginia Palanca-Santiago, president of the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW), Inc.

“Most of them are economically dependent on their husbands, and this forces them to stay in the abusive relationship for years. We have had clients who endure the abuse for as long as 40 years,” said Santiago.

She urged women who are victims of abuse to be empowered and stand up for their rights.

LAW Inc. is a non-government organization that offers free legal aid to women victims of abuse and violence.

The forum held by Philippine Information Agency-Cebu is in line with this year’s Women’s Month celebration in March with the theme: “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda.” (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)