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VAW cases in Baguio decreases?

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 8) — Cases of violence against women (VAW) here seem to follow a positive trend, city police records show. However, the City Social Welfare Office (CSWO) and a militant women’s alliance Innabuyog-Gabriela noted otherwise.

Records of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO)-Women and Children Division (WCD) showed a significant decrease in cases involving violence inflicted on women.

From January to December of 2004, there were 252 cases received by the BCPO a significant decrease of almost 35% compared to the 386 cases in 2003.

From 60 cases on police blotter during the first quarter of 2004, there are 39 cases during the same period this year. This is a decrease of 35%.

In 2004, forty eight of these cases were referred to the barangay, four were settled and only 9 were elevated to the Prosecutor’s Office. This year however, 23 of the 39 cases were referred to the court, 15 to the Barangay while 2 cases were settled.

According to PO1 Maria Theresa Guinto-Pucay, Chief of the BCPO-WCD, most of the cases this year consist of violations of RA 9262 with wife battering topping the list of abuses.

However, the CSWO predicts the increase of cases to surface within the next few months as cases involving violence against women continue to flood this office.

Jennifer Hombrebueno, City Social Welfare Officer 1 said that this is the “normal” trend for these type of cases, due to the passage of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law which took effect last March 27.

RA 9262 has included a wider strata of abuses as crimes such as economic, sexual and psychological abuse aside from the usual physical battery and assault.

Last year the CSWDO registered 80 cases from January to October, with partner battering at the top of the list.

“As women become more aware of their rights through our intensive advocacy, they become more vocal about the abuses being committed against them and they find the courage to do something about it,” said Hombrebueno.

Vernie Yocogan-Diano, Secretary General of the Innabuyog-Gabriela, attributes the increase of cases under RA 9262 to the unfavorable economic condition of the country.

“Economic pressure causes psychological stress for the husband and this results in the abuse of the woman,” said Yocogan-Diano.

According to her, the research done by the Gabriela national office reveals that the peak months of abuses committed against women are January, March, and June.

“January being the post holiday season. March, the graduation and closing of classes and in June, the family experiences extreme economic pressure due to the opening of classes,” she said.

Yocogan-Diano also added that the state should maximize its legal and other essential services to women and children who become victims of abuse.

“What Gabriela can do is to pursue the filing of the cases and elevate these into the national scene to attract attention and at the same time make the cases serve as examples and inspire abused women,” Yocogan-Diano said.

Yocogan-Diano said these women are often subjected to the culture of silence.

“Success in litigation of cases should encourage them to speak out,” added Yocogan-Diano.

Innabuyog-Gabriela noted that social problems in the Cordillera interior bring about violence against women.

VAW exists not only in the confines of the home, Yocogan-Diano said. She also cited several military atrocities which inflicted violence against indigenous peoples, women and their children.

Yocogan-Diano emphasized that in the Cordillera, traditionally, women are protected by indigenous socio-political practices such that a wife-batterer may be ostracized by the community.

“But once they come to the city, they don’t get the same protection,” Yocogan-Diano laments. # June Arvin Gudoy/MMSU intern

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