ILOILO City – Reported cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) across Western Visayas dropped in the first nine months of this year, comparative data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) for 2019 and 2020 covering the period January and September showed.
Police Captain Mona Guia Menez, head of the PRO-6’s Women and Children Protection Desk (WPCD), said they have recorded 824 VAWC cases so far – 35 percent lower than last year’s 1,268 reported cases.
Iloilo City has the most number of cases (298). Iloilo province came in next with 173 followed by the provinces of Capiz and Negros Occidental with 85 each; Aklan province with 82; Guimaras with 53; Antique with 27; and Bacolod City with 21.
Menez attributed the decline to the quarantine restrictions and liquor ban due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.
“We are concerned that others may not be able to report that is why we continue advocating that help is just a call or text away,” Menez said.
She thanked local officials manning “Barangay Desks” and educating people about VAWC.
“It’s a big help,” Menez said.
She urged abused women or children to alert the regional WCPD hotline number 09218009941.
Menez reminded the public that VAW is a public crime and anyone who has a personal knowledge of such crime can report directly to the hotline number, their nearest police station or the barangay council./PN
