Tuesday, April 01, 2008 Only 1 of 85 VAWC cases solved: groups
LOCAL courts are moving at a snail's pace when it comes to resolving cases involving violence against women and children (VAWC).
Of the 85 cases pending cases for violation of Republic Act (RA) 7262 or the Violence Against Women and their Children Act, only one case was resolved.
Even in Benguet this trend appears to happen even in provincial courts. Of the 33 VAWC cases, 17 were dismissed, 11 are ongoing trial and five cases were withdrawn.
This was revealed in a forum on domestic violence organized by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) and the Stop the Abuse and Violence Against Our Women (Save our Women), Inc.
To emphasis the point a case involving a 46-year-old woman, who sued her husband for violation of RA 7262. The verdict: her husband was sentenced to 11 days imprisonment but without penalties and psychiatric treatment.
Claiming she had complete evidence to back her case, she said she was disheartened to learn the sentence for the offense committed was not enough.
In such cases, Save Our Women Inc. chairperson Jennifer Humiding advised complainants to be vigilant about their cases.
Records of the women's desk of Baguio showed that 87 cases which relate to violation of RA 7292, followed by 19 cases of physical injuries and nine case of rape.
Early this year, the women's desk reported seven VAWC cases.
In Benguet, 33 out of 82 cases lodged at the provincial women's desk were violations of the VAWC Act, 31 are rape cases and 18 cases of acts of lasciviousness.
Baguio women's desk head Liza Batanes said the increasing number of complaint may be attributed to higher awareness of women and children's rights as well as the law protecting them. (RO/LI)
