THE Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) and the Anti-CyberCrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were ordered to undertake measures to prevent violence against women and children (VAWC) amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine in some parts of the country including Metro Manila.
PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said that even if the PNP is tapped to implement quarantine guidelines, they have not been remiss in their duty to ensure peace and order in the communities.
“The issue of domestic violence is quite complicated because this happens inside the home of families, which is off limits even to the police. We undertook measures to respond to this through our E-SUMBONG where seeking police assistance or filing of complaints were made easier because even Facebook can be used by the public to seek police intervention,” said PGen. Eleazar.
“The PNP uses its social media accounts to provide reminders, advice and what to do for victims of domestic violence. Let’s remember that there will be no abuser if you won’t allow yourselves to be abused,” he added.
The PNP Chief issued the order after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concern that incidents of VAWC could spike amid the ECQ, similar to what happened last year.
Gatchalian said the current difficult situation being experienced by the public could result in high incidence of domestic violence.
PGen Eleazar said that police units should also be proactive in preventing all forms of exploitation and violence against women and children, including those committed on the internet and social media.
“Any incident or complaint of VAWC should be investigated extensively,” PGen Eleazar said.
He also urged the public not to be afraid to report to the authorities if they are victims or know of any incident of abuse. We need to help each other to stop the violence and other forms or abuses inside the homes during ECQ,” PGen. Eleazar said.