Hurt feelings top abuse cases
CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has recorded at least 273 women reportedly abused emotionally in Central Visayas last year.
Rosemarie Salazar, focal person of DSWD’s Women and Family Welfare, said emotional abuse topped other kinds of abuses against women such as physical abuse with 140 cases, sexual abuse with four cases, child custody with 17 cases, and economical abuse with 62 cases.
All in all, at least 496 cases of abuse were reported at DSWD-7 office in 2014.
Salazar, clarified, however: “Dili makaingon nga nitaas siya tungod kay daghan og giabuso. Duha man gud ang reason, its either tungod sa advocacy nga gibuhat, empowered na sila nga mo-report or ni increase gyud ang abuse,” she said, adding that the total number of abuse in 2014 does not include those recorded by the barangay, Philippine National Police, and other agencies.
She said victims of abuses that take refuge at DSWD do not intend to file cases against the perpetrators, but only want to undergo counseling.
“Ang kaning women, niadto lang ni sa DSWD office kay dili na kaagwanta pero dili pasabot nga ni-file og kaso. Ang ila lang gyud nga naa silay kadangpan, naa silay kaestoryahan nga bug-at na kaayo ilang dughan sa gibuhat sa ilang bana, maong modangop sa DSWD,” she said.
In reality, she said, only a few women file cases involving emotional abuse because unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse is difficult to prove in court.
“Kasagaran sa babaye nga mo-report, naa’y maka-counseling nila, naa’y makapaminaw nila, kay dili lalim,” she said. — (FREEMAN)
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