THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW) Inc. will conduct a series of seminar-workshops in an effort to end domestic violence against women and children.
Speaking during the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) hosted by PIA Cebu Provincial Manager Rachelle Nessia, lawyer Virginia Palanca Santiago, LAW Inc. president, said that the number one reason for domestic violence is illegal drugs.
The Kapihan sa PIA was sponsored by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi), which supports programs to stop violence in families.
“A violent husband or live-in partner mauls his wife or live-in partner when he is high on drugs,” said Santiago, a retired assistant ombudsman.
But Senior Insp. Marginett Yusores, head of Women and Children Protection Center of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said another common reason for domestic violence is lack of money in the family.
“Mag-away ang managtiayon o managtipon kay wala silay kwarta ilabi na kon wala nay bugas (Couples quarrel over lack of money, especially when there’s nothing to eat),” Yusores said.
Women’s month
The Kapihan centered its discussion on Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, to celebrate Women’s Month.
The celebration’s theme was “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda.”
The law empowers women when they are abused by their husbands or live-in partners.
Santiago said there are four kinds of domestic violence: physical, psychological, sexual and economic.
She said that if a husband or live-in partner will commit either of these violations, the wife or live-in partner can seek help from LAW Inc., or any police station, or barangay officials.
Respect
P01 Genevieve Undalat, of the Women and Children Protection Center of the Cebu City Police Office, said every person has rights that need to be respected.
“We should respect everyone’s right. We, women, should remember that we have rights, and there is a law that protects women and children, and we at the Cebu City Police Office is ready at all times to help you in times of trouble,’ Undalat said.
Santiago said that based on observations, the children in families where there’s violence are traumatized, with some growing up with violent behavior.
“If some children don’t follow the advice of their parents, perhaps that’s the result of domestic violence. The parents set a bad example when they quarrel violently in front of their children,” Santiago said.
Yusores said they are conducting awareness on the right of women and children even during barangay assemblies.