By Jennifer P. Rendon
Gender-based violence incidents in Western Visayas declined by almost 30 percent in 2020.
Records from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed that different women and children’s police desks in Western Visayas recorded 2,079 cases related to gender-based violence from January to September 2020.
PRO-6 recorded 2,961 cases for the same period in 2019.
As defined, gender-based violence (GBV) is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.
Just like in previous years, violation of Republic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” topped the list of gender-based violence at 824 cases or 39.63 percent of the regional tally.
Breaches of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) numbered to 657 cases, followed by rape with 401, and acts of lasciviousness with 127.
Other offenses were in single-digit numbers.
Further, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has overtaken the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) in the number of cases.
ICPO logged 553 cases, way ahead of IPPO’s 493 cases and Negros Occidental’s 377.
On the other hand, Capiz recorded 294 cases; Aklan with 184; Antique with 102; Guimaras with 90; and Bacolod City with 73 cases only.
Relatedly, PRO-6 has conducted a specialized course for WCPD officers all over the region.
The 17-day Specialized Course on Investigation of Crimes Involving Women and Children for PNP-WCPD officers started yesterday, October 27.
Fifty-six policemen assigned at different police units and Mobile Forces in Western Visayas took part in the conference done via Zoom.
Colonel Ross Alvarado, PRO-6 deputy regional director for operations, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, said that being a WCPD investigator is a big challenge.
“They don’t have to master the filing of cases but they must possess the ability in assessing the victim and win their trust and confidence for them to fully cooperate,” he said.
The participants are expected to learn laws relative to gender-based violence and its application; different techniques on how to conduct interview with victims of abuses especially children; crafting affidavits; and familiarize themselves with protocols which will aide them in different scenarios that they might encounter as they render their duties as WCPD investigators.
“After 17 days, you are expected to be more efficient and effective investigators equipped with patience and an understanding heart,” Alvarado said.
The course was done online to ensure the safety of the participants.
