CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Male partners can be a catalyst for anti-violence women (VAW), a crucial role for men in ensuring that no women will have to experience violence, said Mx. Hamilcar B. Chanjueco, Jr., supervising gender and development officer, Philippine Commission on WomenPCW)—North Mindanao Field Office, in a special episode of Kapihan sa PIA, a media forum at Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
As part of the kick-off activities of the 18-day campaign against violence against women (VAW), Chanjueco shared that there is still a need to raise awareness about the violence that continues to exist and persist.
“Majority of our victim survivors are women, and most of them experience intimate violence by their husbands or partners,” the PCW officer said.
“It is so easy to say to all women to get out of that relationship, but in reality, it’s really difficult. It is not easy, especially when you are experiencing the violence,” Chanjueco added.
In fact, violence still affects one in three women globally. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s recent national health demographic survey, one in five Filipino women report experiencing violence from their husbands or partners.
In 2023, the Republic Act 9262, which addresses violence against women and their children, reported about 8,055 cases.
A common misconception about VAWC is that it only involves physical harm, but this is only one aspect of violence against women and their children.
Under RA 9262, abuses recognized include physical abuse or harm, sexual violence that is related to sexual in nature, such as rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, treating the woman and her child as sex objects, making demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks, psychological violence where the act is creating emotional suffering, and finally economic abuse.
“When the victim is forced to be economically dependent on their husband. Kani atong (these) perpetrators, sila ang ga-control sa kwarta (they are the ones controlling the money),” Chanjueco explained.
“I encourage all of the victim survivors to go to your nearest barangay VAW desk; second, you can also go to the municipal, provincial, and city social welfare and development office. If you check the PCW website, we have helplines that are connected to the women’s protection desk. The nearest women’s protection desk is sa inyong lugar (in your area),” the PCW officer said.
“You are not alone because your government is with you,” Chanjueco assured.
