QC provides aid to abuse victims, witnesses

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1030191
• Thursday, March 29, 2018

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor (PNA)

MANILA -- Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has assured that the local government will provide assistance to victims and witnesses of crimes and violence in the city, regardless of their age and gender.

During Monday's flag ceremony, Bautista called on “silent” victims of abuse and discrimination to speak out and report their experiences to authorities so they could receive appropriate help.

“Kapag sa palagay ninyo, kapag kayo’y naaapi o pinagsasamantalahan, lalo na ang mga babaeng PWD (person with disability), magsumbong po kayo sa pinakamalapit na barangay (If you think you’re being abused, especially women PWDs, report to the nearest) barangay, barangay officials, o pulis dahil aaksyunan po natin ‘yan (or police because we will act on them),” Bautista said.

At the same event, the city’s Gender and Development Council, together with the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the QC Police District (QCPD), said they will safeguard women’s rights, making sure there would be no place for violence and abuse in the city.

Head of the WCPD, Senior Insp. Djoanna Santos, said the city’s continuous campaign against abuse and violence has made a big impact on the community.

“We can say that before, there were a lot of women who were afraid to voice out the abuse or the violence that was happening to them. But due to the vigorous campaign of the Quezon City Police District from the community police, more people, especially young women, get informed about their rights against abuse,” Santos said.

The QCPD noted that 512 women had filed violence against women (VAW) cases in 2017, compared to 484 cases in 2016.

The top three filed VAW cases in 2017 included physical abuse, psychological abuse, and economic abuse.