Reported VAW cases rise 69.5%,

awareness drive helping -WCPD

GUINDULMAN, Bohol, Dec 3 (PIA)—There is a noted increase in the count in violence against women, but on the other side of it, tells that there is increased awareness that abuse has to be reported, to stop the violence, says Police Captain Mildred Taga-amo, of the Bohol Provincial Police Office Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD).

Coming to Kapihan sa PIA to harp on the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, Tagaamo said that in 2022, Bohol recorded 73 cases of violence against women.

This increased to 105, in 2023, and there may still be a lot of cases out there needing help

If there is something good about the 69.5 % increase, it is knowing that women are now coming out and reporting, Tagaamo pointed out.

To this, police authorities credit the consolidated efforts of government and non-government groups who have joined the country in committing to the United Nations’ goal of ending violence against women.

Since 2002, the Philippines joined the campaign and since then, authorities have sought ways to get to the problem.

In those times, it was also hard to the campaign as women have the tendency to keep to themselves their problems, especially when the police stations had male police investigators, she shared over the radio forum aired live on PIA Bohol facebook and youtube channel.

Now, there are more women police in the force and it has become easier for abused women to come and report, especially that all police stations now have women and children’s desks manned by women police investigators, she said.

A parallel campaign in all police stations focus on lectures, symposia, advocacy activities in schools, barangays and groups talk about violence against women and children, rape, acts of lasciviousness and even voyeurism.

In fact, we need to tell you that now, women who may be abused physically, psychologically, sexually or financially can seek Barangay Protection Order, she added.

The BPO is granted to the aggrieved party for a 15 day prohibition for the aggressor to get near the victim, she explained.

In Bohol, where there is an unspoken culture of silence the PNP is now glad that even in the barangays, the women and children’s desk are getting and facilitating the complaints so that cases can be filed to detain the suspects.

Barangay Captains or even first councilors can issue the order, and within the 15 days, the perpetrator should have enough time to think of his options.

The other option is to go to court and let the court issue the order, Tagaamo said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)