EASTERN Visayas recorded a decrease in cases of Violence Against Children (VAC) from January to October 2019 compared to the previous year.
Brigadier General Ferdinand Divina, acting director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Eastern Visayas, said the community should be more supportive and cooperative with authorities to end VAC cases.
Records show that VAC cases from January to October 2019 were only 719, which is lower than the 940 recorded in the same period in 2018.
"We are calling up the parents to act on their responsibility of instilling discipline to their children as family must be the stronghold of every child. Crime prevention is everybody's concern," said Divina as PRO-Eastern Visayas led the 27th National Children's Month celebration this November.
"We are one with the community in preserving the rights of our children. They are the hope of this country," he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 282 cases of Children in Conflict with Law were recorded for the month of January to October 2019, which is lower than the 351 cases recorded in the same period in 2018.
Violation of Republic Act (RA) 7610 (Child Abuse Act) has the most recorded cases committed against children, with 293. It was followed by rape with 239 cases, said Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, PRO-Eastern Visayas spokesperson.
Prevalent cases committed against children include acts of lasciviousness, physical injuries/maltreatment, violation against Women and their Children (RA 9262), attempted rape, Anti-Trafficking in Persons (RA 9208), child trafficking, consented abduction, kidnapping and failure to return a minor, rape with homicide, qualified seduction, forcible abduction, Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, parricide, violation of RA 9995 (Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009), and simple seduction. (SunStar Philippines)