Almost 7,000 VAWC cases recorded between Aug-Nov 2025 – DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Protective Services Bureau (PSB) handled almost 7,000 cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) in just 4 months last 2025.

According to a statement released on Friday, DSWD called on the public to immediately report VAWC cases to law enforcement agencies following data that showed 1 in 4 women experience domestic abuse.

The PSB shared that the PNP handled a total of 6,883 cases from August 2025 to November 2025 alone.

"It's a systemic issue kasi it's so ingrained in our culture. Mayroon tayong tinatawag na cultural violence kung saan yung mga anak natin, gumagamit tayo ng corporal punishment, at a tender age, tinuturuan natin yung mga anak natin. Kino-condition na natin yung mga anak natin na tanggap sa kultura natin yung paggamit ng karahasan sa pagdidisiplina," shared DSWD – PSB Social Welfare Officer 3 Carol Nuyda.

(It’s a systemic issue because it’s so ingrained in our culture. We have what we call cultural violence where we use corporal punishment on our children at a tender age, and we are also teaching that to our children. We are conditioning our children to accept the culture that violence is used in discipline.)

"Marami po tayong datos na nagpapatunay na hindi lang yung babae yung nagiging biktima ng isang abusive relationship, pati po yung anak ay nagiging biktima. Yung exposure niya pag sinasaktan yung babae, it's a form of psychological abuse doon sa bata. May mga kaso rin tayo ng sexual abuse dahil minsan, hindi nakukuha noong lalaki ang lahat doon sa kaniyang asawa," she added.

(We have a lot of data that proves that women aren’t the only victims of abusive relationships, but even their children become victims as well. Their exposure when the women get hurt, it’s a form of psychological abuse on children. We also have cases of sexual abuse at times because there are instances when the men aren’t satisfied with what they get from their wives.)

Meanwhile, DSWD emphasized that the VAWC law also included domestic violence cases also applied to lesbian relationships, while other laws would apply for male victims.

"Maaari pong magsampa ng VAWC case ang sinumang tao na may personal na kaalaman sa krimen dahil itinuturing na pampublikong krimen ang karahasan sa kababaihan. Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na mga concerned citizens, maaari po tayong tumulong sa biktima sa pagsasampa ng kaso on behalf of the victim," Nuyda said.

(We may file VAWC cases against whoever has personal knowledge of the crimes because violence against women is considered a public crime. We have what we call concerned citizens, where we can help victims by filing cases on behalf of the victim.)

Nuyda warned that VAWC cases may be filed before the Regional Trial Courts (RTC) and said that it was not acceptable for barangay settlements to be done on such cases, especially on those involving sexual abuse.

Under the law, VAWC cases are punished with 1 month to 20 years of imprisonment with a fine of P100,000 to P300,000. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News