Police step up public awareness campaign on women’s rights

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the global celebration of the Women’s Month, the Cebu City Police Office is intensifying its campaign to increase public awareness on the rights of women.

Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña of the Police Community Relations said that this is a continuous project for the police force to address the violence committed against women and children.

His team conducted a seminar on women’s rights in Barangay Taptap, Cebu City last Tuesday. The same seminar will be held among the students and teachers of Cebu Technological University on March 25.

Belciña said that they aim to educate barangay officials and residents from both genders.

He added that it is important for men to be informed of the pertinent laws protecting the women to reduce violence against women. He said that they should be oriented on the penalties and consequences once they violate the law.

Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004," specifies the value of the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for human rights.

Belciña also said that women should know their rights and be informed on how the Philippine National Police handle cases on violence against women.

He said that women should be aware that they can seek assistance from their barangay officials aside from the police.

Section 8 of RA 9262 provides protection orders that may be issued such as barangay protection order, temporary protection order and permanent protection order.

Protection order, as defined by law, is issued to prevent further acts of violence against a woman or her child. The relief granted under a protection order safeguards the victim from further harm.

Belciña said that they intend to organize seminars in all barangays in Cebu City, government agencies and non-government organizations.

Belciña also acts as the Region VII president and Visayas chapter vice president of the Men Opposed to Violence against Women Everywhere (MOVE), an organization of men actively involved in the elimination of violence against women.

Last Tuesday afternoon, 19-year-old Ariel Ian Tablo was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a 25-year-old woman in sitio Kadahuan, Barangay Talamban.

According to a comparative report from CCPO, the year 2013 logged a total of 863 women-related cases in Cebu City, an increase of 126.51 percent or 482 cases more than the 381 reported in 2012.

However, the Women's and Children's Protection Desk said the report is not alarming since it started including cases that reach the barangay in its crime statistics report only in 2013.

In January of this year, there were 83 women-related cases while in January last year there were 85 cases. Meanwhile, there were 81 cases reported last month compared to 69 in February 2013.

Of the acts of violence against women in 2012 to 2013, physical injury was highest with 340 incidents in 2012 and 755 in 2013.

Other women-related cases are acts of lasciviousness, rape, harassment, attempted rape, concubinage, psychological abuse, unjust vexation, oral defamation, adultery, and violations of the Anti-Photo and Voyeurism Act. — (FREEMAN)