Decrease in VAWC cases noted in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY --The Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO)children and women protection desk has noted a sizable decrease in the number of violence against women and children (VAWC) cases filed with the CCPO last year.Policerecords show that the number crimes against women in 2016, a total of 107, drastically dropped to only 62 in 2017.Most crimes against women in the city involve physical and psychological abuse. Eight of the cases were settled, another eight were referred to the barangays and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while the remaining 46 were recorded with the PNP.Meanwhile, cases of child abuse recorded from 2014 to 2017 were highest in 2015 at 103 and 2016 at 123. Physical injuries and rape were the top crimes committed against children. Police Officer Stephany Guanga of the CCPO women and children protection desk said the PNP headquarters is responsible for the consolidation of these cases.The desk caters to abused women and children who come to their office to seek assistance, while the filing of cases is endorsed to stations where the children and women protection desk investigators record the reports and take proper action.Guanga added that complaints about a third party in the case of married couples and lack of support from the spouse of separated couples for their children were also common in the city.Guanga said one reason for the decrease in VAWC cases is the continuing advocacy on women’s and children’s rights by the PNP children and women protection desks in police stations and barangays. The city has 4 police stations for its 37 barangays. The CPPO women and children protection desk is actively involved in activities celebrating National Women’s Month in the city this March. (April Piquero/NDU-BAComm3