Danao, Liloan have most women, children Victims

CEBU, Philippines - Danao City and Liloan top the list of local government units in Cebu province with highest reported cases of violence against women and children. Based on the records of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, for the first four months of the year, Danao City and Cordova both have eight cases of violence against minors.

The same records show that Danao City has also the highest number of violence against women with 13 cases, followed by Liloan with 12.

PO3 Shiela Melendres of WCPD-CPPO said the data may not reflect the real situation as they believe not all cases of domestic violence are reported to the police. She added some cases do not reach the police offices because they get settled at the barangay level while some families opt not to report the incident to authorities to avoid shame and protect their children.

“Mostly man gud madala ra sa settlement like bayran na lang ang damages than reporting what happened,” Melendres told The FREEMAN.

Danao police chief Alvin Balio said the statistics only show that their WCPD officer is working hard to encourage victims and their families to report cases of violence.

Senior Insp. Noli Sernio, Cordova police chief, who assumed post only last April 5, claimed they are implementing a curfew at 10 p.m. but the arrested minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and then released back to their parents.

“Ang problema kay dili man namo pwede i-put in jail adto ra gyud sa DSWD,” Sernio said.

Senior inspector Ciriaco Larrobis, Liloan police chief, for his part said all they can do is to investigate and support the filing of case since they can not dictate a person not to commit a crime.

“Ug nitaas ang kaso, tungod na sa mga tao nga nilapas sa balaod kay di man nato mapugngan ang panghitabo sa among area of responsibility,” he said.  Melendres said those who usually report cases of domestic violence belong to the middle class and poor families who want protection against abuse.

“As WCPD officer, so far kadtong high class people limited ra mo-report kay maulaw sila labi na og ilado,” she said.

Rape and repeated physical abuse are the usual cases reported to police and filed in court. —/WAB (FREEMAN)