IN TACLOBAN CITY: A CONSTANT DEJA VU
5. Results and findings
The data from the Phil. National Police (PNP) Tacloban City show that for year 2016, a total of 387 cases were lodged at the PNP office Tacloban City. Majority of the cases was on Physical violence comprising more than 50 percent, followed by psychological abuse recorded at 34.11%. Third in rank was economic abuse with a hare of 5.17 percent of all the reported cases, while rape cases accounted for 1.81 percent, acts of lasciviousness accounted for 1.3 percent and the others ( attempted rape, slight physical injury and concubinage have less than 1percent share respectively.
Reporting to the police and pursuing a legal battle (filing a case in court) against the offenders are two separate things. Table 1 also highlights the fact that survivors of Physical violence (17 out 217) complaints, or 7.83 percent filed cases in court. On the other hand, rape victims filed cases and this comprised 57.14 percent.
Those women who suffered from economic abuse, 25 percent of them pursued legal action against their oppressors. From all the cases reported, a minimal of 7.5 percent filed legal cases in courts.
Refer to Table 1.
Table 1. Reported Cases of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, 2016 Tacloban City
Cases No. of % No. of %
Cases Distri- Cases Distri- Reported bution Filed bution
Rape 7 1.81 4 57.14
Attempted Rape 1 0.26
Physical Injury in rel. to RA 217 56.07 17 7.83 9262
Slight Physical Injury 3 0.77
Psychological Abuse in rel. 132 34.11 1 0.76 to RA 9262
Economic Abuse/Non- 20 5.17 5 25
Support
Acts of Lasciviousness 5 1.3 2 40
Concubinage 2 0.51
Total 387 100 29 7.5
With regards to violence against children, there were a total of 218 reported cases in Tacloban Philippine National Police.
Physical violence tops the cases with a share of 65.14 percent, followed by psychological abuse with a share of 7.34 percent.
Rape and attempted rape constitute 6.42 per cent and 1.37 percent respectively. Unfortunately, out of the 218 reported cases, only 43 or 19.72 percent filed legal cases against the perpetrators. Of these legal cases, all most all of the rape victims filed legal cases.
With regards to the children who suffered physical violence, only 11.27 percent filed cases while those victims of psychological violence and acts of lasciviousness there were 19.04 percent and 37.5 percent were courageous enough to file cases in court. Refer to Table 2.
Table 2. Reported Cases of VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN, 2016 Tacloban City
Cases No. of
Cases Percentage No. of Percentage Reported Distribution Cases
Filed Distribution
Rape 14 6.42 13 92.86
Attempted Rape 3 1.37 1 33.33
Sexual Harassment 1 0.46
Physical Injury 142 65.14 16 11.27
Psychological Abuse 21 9.63 4 19.04
Acts of 16 7.34 6 37.5
Lasciviousness
Threats 5 2.3
Qualified Seduction 3 1.37
Inducing a Minor 1 0.46
Child Trafficking 1 0.46 1 100
Bullying 1 0.46
Unjust Vexation 8 3.67
Frustrated Homicide 1 0.46 1 100
Frustrated Murder 1 0.46 1 100
Total 218 100 43 19.72
An end to VAWC: Advocacy and education
With the passage of RA 9262 (VAWC) thirteen years ago, one would think that violence against women and children would be a thing of the past, but, unfortunately, it is not. It continuously abuses the women regardless of status and children. Obviously, RA 9262 is not a deterrent to men who oppresses the women and children.
Why do men continue to inflict pain on women and children? What must be done to stop or eradicate VAWC?
An interview with the gender advocate shared interesting insights on why violence against women and children continue until today. She said that “It doesn’t mean that with RA 9262, men will stop violating women and children”
RA 9262 is not a sufficient condition because “the pervasive culture that men are superior and women are subordinate” This continue to permeate our society plus the “socialization done to children at homes are other reasons why violence against women and children is sustained.”
To eradicate violence against women and children the following must be done “: One way of changing the culture, how behavior is changed is through education, awareness campaign and advocacy. We have to reach out to a lot of people and impart on them how to be gender fair.”
Another gender champion from Tacloban City, a gender
focal person has this view on how violence will be eradicated.” An awareness of the vast majority on a lot of issues related to violence against women and children is necessary. We have to reach out to a lot of individuals especially the males. An then if awareness is already widespread, then support services should be made available. Support service like psychological support, legal support, economic and financial support, a half-way house or a temporary shelter. With these support, abused women or women who are in an abusive relationship will not hesitate to come out and will be encouraged to file formal complaint.
One of their awareness program is a massive campaign called KATROPA (Kalalakihan tapat sa responsabilidad at Obligasyon para sa ina at pamilya) Men that take on responsibility and obligation for the mother and the family. This program is aimed to change the mindset of the men, where men are being oriented as partners of women.
Another program which the city is implementing for awareness is Men’s responsibility on gender and Development (MRGAD).
This refers to men’s’ responsibility on Family Planning, Men’s responsibility on STI, HIV and Aids and men’s; responsibility on reproductive health. There are 138 barangays in Tacloban City, and their objective is to cover these barangays for these various campaign ad advocacy.
Violence, Support and empowerment
An interview with a VAW survivor, she opines that with her experience as an economically abused wife, she became empowered.
She is the President of an organization called “5K Empowered women. And a member of Tacloban City Council of women. The 5k empowered women has 20 members, women with varied socio-demographic backgrounds but they have a commonality as survivors as a battered wife, rape, economic and psychological abuse.
Her empowerment was due to the assistance of the Shelter Program in Tacloban City, where abused women and children can temporarily seek accommodation. At the same time, with the support from Department of Social Work and Development
(DSWD), and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) she was able to file a case against her husband. According to her, women should be determined and decisive when it comes to battling in whatever form of violence. She said that men will continue to inflict violence against women if and only if women are just willing to be victims.
Some women are dependent on their partners, some women are faint hearted, and some women are afraid so they cannot exit from their oppressive relationship or marital condition.
How to empower women? She suggested a lot of things, foremost of which is education. There should be massive advocacy about the ill effects of VAWC and the options made available to women who are victimized. Women victims must be informed that there is an alternative from being a battered wife, and there is an outside and better world, and freedom from economic and psychological abuse. The Shelter Program is a big help for women.
When women are financially challenged such that they cannot afford to pay legal fees, they can avail of a free service of PAO office.
While VAWC desks are available in every barangay in the city, those manning the desks need to be trained as well. Mostly they are not good motivators or they don’t have the skill in giving proper advice on what to do when women complain.
Women empowerment should be sustained. It should not come to the fore only during women’s month celebration when there a lot activities and media mileage. Gender sensitivity trainings (GST) must be a continuous program since boys would grow up to be future partners, husband, brother, uncles, neighbors or friend.
Another VAW survivor shared that at an early age, she got married. With low education and low access in the labor market, she was totally dependent to her husband. She suffered the feeling of being powerless and being a blind follower (sunod-sunoran) to her husband for so long that she wanted to be free from their marriage.
She has been to a lot places because wherever her husband was assigned, she has to go with him. She was economically abused.
She could not decide for herself. But in the earlier years, VAWC was unheard yet, so she simply went on with her life with her
husband until she got sick.
What was the turning point of her life? She did not leave her husband but what transformed her was a counselling from a friend and her faith in God. From then on, she was able to developed self-confidence and she realized that, her being dependent on her husband economically and in decision making, should end.
She said that being in an abusive relation is a choice, and it should be decided by the individual. As of today, she is already an empowered woman, and she is a member too of Tacloban City Council of Women. According to her, one need not separate from one’s husband. What is important is the woman should be determined to be free, to be confident and think what is best for herself and her children.
Practically all of the VAW survivors are empowered women due to the fact that they have chosen to fight and confront their abusive partners in courts. Thus, those that were economically abused were able to gain monetary support, one was able to get a share in their conjugal properties. On the other hand, those that were physically abused gained temporary protection order. They have a common voice that violence will end because they have all the rights and might to do so. The following is quote from Eleanor Roosevelt which aptly fittingly describe an empowered woman is:
“A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”