CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)– “The 18-day campaign to end VAW is not to give special treatment but special attention to the plight of women and children who have been victims of violence,” said Lawyer Merlynn Barola-Uy, regional prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ)-10 and chair of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (RIACAT-VAWC)-10.
IIn Talakayan sa PIA, a media forum held at SM CDO Downtown Premier, Uy said, “Time and time again, throughout history, we have already proven nga ang babae, mga girls, mao gyud ang pirmi biktima sa violence [women and girls are the usual victims of violence].”
Despite the grim reality of numerous cases falling under the violation of Republic Act (RA) 9262, which addresses violence against women and children, Uy sees a silver lining in the reported 479 cases filed in various jurisdictions within the region. She explained that this surge in reported cases is a positive indication that people are finding the courage to speak up and take legal action against their abusers.
“When it comes to VAWC, the most number of complaints comes from the city of Cagayan de Oro, with 163, followed by Misamis Oriental with 148; the third is coming from Gingoog City,” Uy said.
While the numbers are alarming, Uy remains optimistic, stating that they prefer that individuals report incidents, allowing the authorities to provide timely support and legal assistance, rather than enduring silence that could escalate abuse and potentially lead to tragic outcomes for the victims.
Turning attention to the concerning prevalence of rape cases in Region 10, Uy highlighted that Misamis Oriental, particularly incidents of incestuous rape involving fathers, grandfathers, and stepfathers, is an alarming trend. Additionally, she brought attention to the disturbing rise of online sexual abuse, emphasizing the urgent need to address this as one of the worst forms of child labor.
“Gakahitabo ni siya sa mga liblib nga lugar, daghan ta’g mga instances nga ing-ani, gagmay kaayo og balay [these happen in the secluded or remote areas; we have so many instances like these and the houses are so tiny],” she said.
As to the reason for the crime, it is not necessarily drugs, said the prosecutor, but when the father comes home drunk and the children can be objects for the crime, or if the house has no partition or division, when they sleep together because the space is so tiny, it can be a venue for any physical or sexual abuse, Uy shared.
Dispelling misconceptions, Uy asserted that poverty is not an excuse to violate one’s own child, emphasizing that the root cause of these crimes is often related to abuse of power rather than drugs.
Rape, she clarified, is an issue of power, saying abusers understand the authority they wield over victims, especially when the victims are children who may be too afraid to report due to threats.
In a fervent call to action, Uy concluded, “The violence against women and children is a real issue and is really happening, and we have to do something about it.
The Philippine Information Agency-10 organizes Talakayan sa PIA on a monthly basis at SM CDO and streamlines it online through the agency’s official Facebook page. (JMOR edited by RTP/PIA-10)
The Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking-Violence Against Women and Their Children-10 discussed in Talakayan sa PIA, a media forum held at SM CDO Downtown Premier, the commemoration of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, where it is not to give special treatment to women per se but special attention to the plight of women and children who have been victims of violence. (Photo: DCC/PIA 10)
