VIOLENCE against women (VAW) cases in Eastern Visayas decreased to 828, or 16.95 percent, in 2019 from 997 incidents reported in 2018, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-8).
“The decrease in 169 incidents was made possible through the combined efforts of PRO-8 and other counterparts advocating for women’s protection against various forms of violence,” said PRO-8 Director Ferdinand Divina on Wednesday, March 11.
Cases included violation of Republic Act (RA) 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children, 611; rape, 92; attempted rape, 23; acts of lasciviousness, 88; and concubinage, 4.
Other cases were violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons, 3; forcible abduction, 2; parricide, 2; sexual harassment, 1; bigamy, 1; and Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, 1.
Lieutenant Zenaiah Sudio, chief of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) in the region, said they aim to increase awareness on VAW and the need to protect women’s rights through lectures and house to house visitations. (Ronald O. Reyes)