DAVAO City has recorded a 61-percent drop in violence against women in 2018, according to a data presented by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

DCPO spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said that from 2,861 cases in 2017, it dropped to 1,123 in 2018.

Gaspan credited the police authorities’ extensive campaign, through the “Oplan Kalinaw”, for the drop in cases.

However, she said violence against women and children (VAWC) continues to be a social problem, not just in the city, but in the entire country.

“Daghan ta VAWC cases na wala na mag-proceed. Ang uban kutob lang pa-blotter, while ang uban kutob ra sa fiscal (We have many VAWC cases that no longer proceed. Others would end up just being blottered, while others would be settled in the fiscal),” Gaspan said during the Kapehan sa PIA press conference.

Prosecutor Jay Karel Sanchez of the City Prosecutor’s Office said that violence against women remains to be one of cases that has the largest volume filed in their office, next to drug cases.

The prosecutor said most women, especially mothers, are forced to desist in pursuing cases against their partners, due to financial constraints.

“Victims of VAWC are the best witnesses themselves. However, if they do not want to testify, we cannot do anything about it,” Sanchez said.

Atty. Imelda Evangelio, Office of the Special Counsel on VAWC, under the City Mayor’s Office, said that their office settles an average number of 10 couples everyday, hoping that they can reconcile them before it reaches to tyhe court.