By Mary Judaline Partlow
In Dumaguete City, reports of violence against women (VAW) in Negros Oriental have increased this year, according to a police official on Tuesday. Lt. Helen Aldirite, the head of the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), revealed during the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) forum that the province has already documented 18 more VAW incidents in the first two months of this year compared to 2023. NOPPO records indicate 62 VAW incidents in January and February, a significant rise from the 44 incidents reported during the same period in 2023.
Aldirite said more women are coming out in the open to report abuses and file cases against their abusers.
She said interventions and other activities conducted by the police and other organizations have empowered them to fight for their rights.
“Over the past years, we have done a lot of interventions, such as dialogues, with women now educated on their rights and laws affecting them,” she said.
Domestic violence involving spouses tops the list of abuses against women, although Aldirite could not give specific figures.
Gemelyne Espina, program manager of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Negros Oriental, said they conduct trainings on a community savings program for women to become financially independent.
Women tend to be abused by their husbands if they are solely dependent on them, Espina said.
Hilton Edrial, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said this year, they have assisted 84 women so far with psychological evaluation and medical examination related to VAW.
Some PHP3 million have been allocated for psychological evaluation and training not just of women but inclusive of all sectors, such as children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer group, he said.
Aldirite and other forum panelists said a common reason of victims’ non-filing of cases is fear or stigma. (PNA)
