SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – Twenty six cases of violence against women and children happened in seven of the 19 barangays of this tourist town in the past two years urging the town mayor, the local priest and women leaders to address the situation.
Of the 26 cases noted from records secured from the Philippine National Police- Sagada police station, 12 are reported incidents of sexual abuse on children for years 2015 and 2016 including two recent incidents early 2017 for violation of RA 7610.
Mayor James Pooten said the needed attention be given to children’s and women’s plight during a forum on violence against women and children conducted by the Inayan Watch here at the Church of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV) in celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8 heavily participated in by the Sagada-wide Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Innayan Watch, and some members of the Sagada Inabe, women-tourist guides of northern Sagada based BFTAMPGA, and some women kagawad leaders.
Increasing incidents were noted with four alarming cases of sexual abuse and acts of lasciviousness on children in 2015 to seven incidents in 2016 in violation of RA 7610. The early months in 2017 reported two incidents of sexual abuse on children.
RA 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act covers child prostitution and other sexual abuse, child trafficking, obscene publications and indecent shows, other acts of abuses, and circumstances which threaten or endanger the survival and normal development of the child.
The rest of the 26 reported incidents are violations of RA 9262 and one on RA 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
Violation of RA 9262 known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004” show a decreasing trend from eight in 2015 to four incidents in 2016.
Seventy five (75%) to 85% of the reported 26 cases went through amicable settlement by both the perpetrator and the victim either through the guardian or the victim.
The rest were filed and are now undergoing trial in court.**. Gina Dizon
