BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) reported Wednesday the decrease in Violence Against Women (VAW) cases in the region during the implementation of quarantine in 2020.
Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., director of PRO-13, said Caraga Region recorded 1,505 reported cases of VAW in 2020 compared to the 2,312 logged in 2019.
Based on the records of the Regional Women and Children Protection Division (RWCPD), Caramat said that in 2020, a total of 448 reported victims of VAW were under 18 to 30 years old, 525 victims were 31 to 50 years old, and 110 victims were 51 years old and above.
Records also indicated that most of the VAW cases last year were reported in Agusan del Norte with 377 cases, followed by Surigao del Sur with 351 cases, Agusan del Sur with 262 cases, Surigao del Norte with 261 cases, Butuan City with 201 cases, and in the Province of Dinagat Islands with 53 cases.
RWCPD also noted that the top three offenses committed against women last year were violations of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 with 921 cases, followed by rape (345 cases), and acts of lasciviousness (157 cases).
Cases for violations of RA 9262 last year were also lower compared to 2019, registering 1,007 cases while rape tallied 411 cases. Only the cases on acts of lasciviousness had increased from 101 cases in 2019 to 157 last year.
“While the Philippines is one of the countries that has the most number of laws that address violence against women, it is upsetting to note that many are still abused every day,” Caramat said. (PNA)
