The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T Eleazar ordered the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) and the Anti-CyberCrime Group (ACG) to undertake measures to prevent violence against women and children or VAWC amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine in some parts of the country including Metro Manila.
PGen. Eleazar assured that even if the PNP is tapped to implement quarantine guidelines, police personnel have not been remiss in their duty to ensure peace and order in the communities.
“Medyo kumplikado ang isyu ng domestic violence dahil nangyayari ito sa loob ng tahanan kung saan off-limits na ang inyong kapulisan. Kaya gumawa tayo ng mga paraan para matugunan ito kabilang ang ating E-SUMBONG kung saan mas pinadali natin ang paghingi ng tulong at pagrereklamo ng ating mga kababayan dahil mismong Facebook platform ay magagamit para sa police intervention,” said PGen Eleazar.
“Ginagamit din natin ang mga social media accounts ng inyong PNP upang magbigay ng paalala, payo at kung ano ang mga dapat gawin para sa mga biktima ng domestic violence,” he added.
“Kaya hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na pagkatiwalaan ang inyong PNP sa isyung ito. Alalahanin natin na walang mang-aabuso, kung walang magpapa-abuso.”
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 also said that he has already instructed the concerned police units, particularly the Anti-Cybercrime Group and the PNP Women and Children’s Protection Center, to undertake measures to prevent and address crimes against women and children now that a large part of the country is under the strictest form of quarantine.
PGen. Eleazar said that police units should be proactive in preventing all forms of exploitation and violence against women and children, including those committed on the internet and social media.
“Kailangang matutukan at masusing maimbestigahan ang bawat reklamo hinggil sa VAWC,” PGen. Eleazar said.
He also urged the public to report incidents of VAWC to authorities through the PNP’s E-Sumbong platforms.
“Hinihimok ko din ang publiko na huwag matakot dumulog sa awtoridad kung sila ay biktima o kaya ay may alam na insidente ng pangaabuso. Kailangan nating magtulungan upang mapigil natin ang mga violence and other forms or abuses sa loob ng tahanan lalo na sa panahon ng ECQ,” PGen. Eleazar said. (PNP-PIO)
