May 21, 2026 – The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has recorded a total of 33 cases of child abuse in the city from January to March this year.
CSWDO Officer Liza Daisa Bulayungan said that of the 33 cases, 16 have been formally filed while 17 remain unfiled.
Based on the CSWDO report, non-incest rape was the most prevalent type of abuse with 14 incidents, followed by physical abuse with eight; acts of lasciviousness with four; and incest rape with three. One case each was logged for emotional abuse, sexual molestation, neglect, and child labor.
Fourteen of the victims had no relation to their abusers. In cases where the relationship to the victim was identified, biological fathers accounted for the highest number of known perpetrators with six cases, followed by neighbors and friends with three cases each. Other perpetrators included an employer, a family driver, an uncle, a suitor, a grandmother’s common-law partner, a maternal grandmother, and a live-in partner, with one case each.
A majority of the victims are female, with 29 or 87.9 percent, while four or 12.1 percent are male.
Most of the victims belong to the 12–15 age group with 20 or 60.6 percent, followed by the 16–17 age group with eight or 24.2 percent. Four belong to the 9–11 age group, and one each falls under the 6–8 and 0–5 age groups.
Of the total, 26 are currently enrolled in school while seven are out-of-school youth.
In 2025, there were 180 documented victims of child abuse, with 65 cases filed and 115 remaining unfiled.
Physical abuse topped the list with 50 reported incidents, followed by non-incest rape with 31 cases, general sexual abuse with 23 cases, and neglect with 19 cases.
Thirty-two victims had no relation to their abusers, while the others had known perpetrators including biological fathers, mothers, stepfathers, and neighbors.
Victims were mostly female, with 117 or 69.2 percent, and 82 or 48 percent belonged to the 12–15 age group.
The CSWDO continues to monitor these statistics to evaluate current social welfare interventions and strengthen community-level child protection programs in collaboration with other offices and agencies, including the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
A comprehensive care framework for victims of child abuse is in place, alongside efforts to roll out a strategic roadmap to prevent future cases.
The response framework divides critical tasks among agencies to ensure victims receive holistic care:
The CSWDO handles long-term rehabilitation, providing financial and educational aid, temporary shelter, livelihood assistance, and various counseling and psychological first-aid programs.
The BGHMC leads the immediate medical response, conducting safety assessments, physical and medicolegal examinations, psychiatric referrals, and psychological evaluations.
The PNP manages the legal and security aspects, including transporting victims for medicolegal examinations, facilitating sworn statements, and maintaining continuous monitoring of cases.
These efforts are supplemented by the active support and involvement of various non-government organizations in assisting the victims.
As part of its way forward, the CSWDO is looking to shift from reactive care to proactive prevention.
Bulayungan said a set of core recommendations has been put forward to better safeguard children in the community. **Aileen P. Refuerzo
