By Zeus Legaspi and Chrissa Serandon
A Municipal-Trial-Court (MTC) judge appealed to victims of violence against women and children to speak up and report to the authorities.
In an online discussion titled, “uSAPan: Karahasan sa Kababaihan at sa Kanilang mga Anak sa Panahon ng Pandemya” on Sept. 29, Judge-at-Large Hon. Maria Celina Saludes Carungay-Sevillano expressed her concern over the underwhelming number of victims of domestic violence who reported to authorities.
“Imagine po (ano), 30 percent lang ang nag-report ng domestic violence, iniisip ko po nasaan yung 70 percent, anong nangyari doon sa sisenta porsyento? Siguro po maiisip natin na (ang) seven out of 10 na ‘yon, tinanggap na lang nila. Karamihan sa kanila, nanahimik na lang, tinanggap na lang ang sitwasyon, tiniis na lang nila,” she said.
Deriving from her 18 years of experience as an attorney, Hon. Carungay-Sevillano claimed that women who are victims of violence hide their true identity because of fear that the public will know what they are experiencing.
“Ayaw po nilang malaman, nagkukubli po sila sa ibang identity. Ayaw po nilang malaman na sila mismo ‘yung taong involved. Ayaw po nilang malaman ng iba na nakararanas sila ng domestic violence lalo na sa sarili po nilang tahanan,” the judge said.
She then appealed to the audience to aid in the mission of ending domestic violence by speaking up.
“Tumulong po tayo para wakasan natin itong violence against women and children. Let us break the silence. Kung sino man po dito ang nakararanas ng karahasan sa kahit na ano man pong uri o anyo, magsalita po kayo. Speak up…humingi po tayo ng tulong,” Hon. Carungay-Sevillano stated.
In 2017, Philippine Commission on Women data claimed that one in four Filipino women aged 15-49 has experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence by their partner.
