Almost 14,000 cases of violence against women, children reported amid pandemic -PCW

Nearly 14,000 cases of violence against women and children have been recorded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said on Saturday.

Interviewed at the Laging Handa public briefing, PCW Deputy Executive Director for Operations Kristine Balmes said there were 13,923 cases reported from March 15, 2020 to November 13, 2020.

Of the number, 9,176 were violence against women (VAW) while 4,747 were violence against children.

Region 7 or Central Visayas had the highest number of cases of violence against women and their children (VAWC), or gender-based violence, which is twice the number of cases in the National Capital Region, Balmes said.

However, cases this year have declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ito pong panahon ng pandemya ay bumaba po ang mga reported cases natin ng violence against women. Ito po ay bumaba dahil alam naman po natin na 'yung pandemya ay naging sanhi kung saan ang ating mga kababaihan, lalo na 'yung mga victim survivor natin, ay hindi maka-access ng iba't ibang services ng ating service providers," Balmes said.

"So medyo malaki 'yung ibinaba niya, pero hindi ibig sabihin na bumaba ang kaso ng VAW dahil sa ibang reporting sectors ay nakapag-report naman ang ating mga kababaihan," she added.

According to Balmes, despite the overall drop in cases, some barangays have reported an increase in VAW cases.

Balmes said inquiries on VAWC have tripled at their PCW office.

"The PCW data show that there has been an increase in the number of inquiries received from March to October (ranging from 25 to 43 per month), compared to those received from January to March of this year (ranging from 8 to 12)," the PCW said in a separate statement.

The PCW as well cited Philippine National Police (PNP) data that showed a drop in the number of gender-based violence cases at 14,721 from March 15 to October 31.

This is lower than the 26,921 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Complaints of rape, especially involving minors, have also increased, according to Balmes.

"Ang violence against women and their children ay isang public crime. Kung walang lakas ng loob na magsumbong 'yung biktima o 'yung bata na siya 'yung mismong lumapit at magsumbong, puwede pong kahit sino na may alam tungkol sa kaso o pang-aabuso ang siyang lumapit sa ating mga himpilan ng pulisya at ang pinakauna po na puwedeng lapitan at pinakamalapit sa aming palagay ay ang ating mga barangay VAW desk officers," she said. -MDM, GMA News