Professional Documents
Culture Documents
M
erle was only 17 years old when she was brought
to a brothel in Manila that catered to Japanese
customers. She was able to escape, but only last
December, she saw the same recruiter who got her recruiting
young women again.
The exploitation of women has become even more varied
with the progress of technology. Nimia was offered the job of
chatting on the Internet with men. Later, she realized the job
entailed doing very demanding sexual tricks as a cyber sex
model as requested by her online clients.
Those who traffic women abroad have connections in the
Immigration departments of our airports, so that even minors
like Gladys, who was 16 when she was tricked into working as
a prostitute in Malaysia, was able to pass inspection without
any problem.
These are some of the issues and obstacles faced by VAWC and trafficking survivors, and many
stakeholders are earnest about addressing them. The city government of Angeles, for its part, has
drafted and passed ordinances, resolutions and executive orders to support R.A. 9262 and R.A. 9208.
Institutional mechanisms have been set up to implement these laws. But women and children who
suffer violence within the home, and exploitation and abuse outside, sometimes do not get the aid
and justice they are seeking. It is the intent of this research report to find out why.
Copyright © 2010
All rights reserved — WeDpro, Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,
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the publisher.
Published by the Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro),
Inc. through the Project “Private and Public Faces of Violence Against Women: Addressing Domestic
Violence and Trafficking in the Urban Poor Communities and Entertainment Centers of Angeles City and
Olongapo City” (“The Red AVP”)
A project funded by
The European Union
In cooperation with:
Buklod Center, Inc.
Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng Angeles, Inc.
Local Government Units of the Cities of Angeles and Olongapo
Barangays Amsic and Malabanias (Angeles)
Barangays Gordon Heights and West Bajac-bajac (Olongapo)
Aida Santos-Maranan
Project Manager, “The Red AVP”
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, WeDpro, Inc.
100
80
videoke/karaoke/music lounges
bars/cocktail lounges
60
spa/massage parlors
night clubs
40
20
0
2005 2006 2007 2008
Number of Registered Entertainment Centers in Olongapo City
Graph 2. Number of Registered Entertainment Centers in Olongapo City
70
60
50
20
10
0
2007 2008 2009
Methodology
Three data collection techniques were used: 1) collection of secondary materials, 2) key informant
interviews (KIIs), and 3) focus group discussions (FGDs).
Limitations
There were only two barangays under study: Bgy. Malabanias and Bgy. Amsic. These barangays were
chosen in consultation with the local women’s organization NAGKA, which is the partner of WEDPRO
in Angeles City.
In the course of the research, two factors hindered the full achievement of the objective, namely,
time limitations and data gaps.
Time Limitations
The Research Team had to interview at least 30 key informants from November 2009 to January 2010;
the schedule was too tight to complete the interviews given the unavailability of key informants
during the Christmas break. The Christmas break lessened the number of days for the interviews.
There were 40 key informants. NAGKA with the assistance of the barangay officials identified the
key informants. The Research Team experienced some difficulty in getting appointments for these
interviews.
Data Gaps
When the Research Team was reviewing the cases filed at the Angeles Family Court, they noticed
that there were more violations of R.A. 7610—the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation
and Discrimination Act—than R.A.s 9262 and 9208.
At the time of the writing, the CSWDO did not have consolidated data on the prevalence statistics
of VAW. However, the CSWDO and WCPD informed the body during the Validation Workshop that
starting April 2010, the barangays, WCPD, CSWDO and Family Courts will be using an intake/update
card for each victim-survivor as suggested by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
Further, the DSWD is mandated to consolidate the data coming from the different service and
law enforcement agencies, including the barangays and the Family Courts. It is expected that more
accurate prevalence statistics on VAW will be available by then.
Given the above situation, the research refocused its objective and centered on assessing the
current reality of trafficking and VAWC in Angeles City and in identifying the barriers to their
effective intervention.
Secondary Materials
Police blotters
• VAWC complaints registered in Bgy. Amsic police blotter from 2007-2009 (please refer to Annex 3,
sample of blottered complaints)
Family Court
• VAWC and trafficking cases filed in Family Court Branches 59-61 from 2004-2009 (please refer to
Annexes 9-14)
Barangay profiles
• Bgy. Amsic
• Bgy. Malabanias
Bgy. Malabanias
Majority of the women are housewives and have no income. Some are members of the informal
sector, working as vendors, jueteng (illegal numbers game) collectors, house helpers and nannies, or
working in beauty parlors as manicurists. Others are engaged in small businesses, such as managing
retail stores and food stalls or rattan craft. Women with some high school education work in bars
and cocktail lounges as GROs (guest relations officers) or hostesses, because Bgy. Malabanias is near
Fields Avenue, one of the entertainment centers in Angeles City.
Bgy. Amsic
The women of Bgy. Amsic have more or less the same profile as the women of Bgy. Malabanias. But
there was no mention of women working in bars. A big difference between the two barangays is that
an estimated 60 percent of Amsic residents are migrants and are illegal settlers. The land they are
occupying is privately owned.
Barangay Profiles
Comparing the description given by the KIs with that of the profiles obtained from the barangay
secretaries, the Research Team made the following observations:
Bgy. Malabanias
• Bgy. Malabanias has 40 bars and 22 hotels, commercial establishments where women can work
as GROs or hostesses, as well as nine Internet cafés, nine boutiques and seven spas.
• Bgy. Malabanias has more stable and durable dwelling units (1,502 made of concrete, 822 made
of concrete and wood; they have only 428 shanties). They have 2,752 households based on their
2008 barangay profile.
Bgy. Amsic
• In Bgy. Amsic, 30 percent of the households are considered the poorest households and 30 percent
are considered average households.
• They have five day care centers for toddlers (public and private). This points to a number of
women who are of reproductive age.
• Bgy. Amsic has no high school facility, which has bearing on the level of education of the
women.
• There is a furniture company operating in the community engaged in the import-export of
handicrafts using local materials.
• Not mentioned by the KIs is that 65 percent of the residents’ main source of livelihood is
scavenging.
VAWC
• Bgy. Amsic – more or less 20 VAWC cases per quarter for 2009
• Bgy. Malabanias had 16 cases recorded in the last two years
• WCPD – 83 VAWC cases from 2004-June 2009, roughly 18 cases per year
Trafficking
• WCPD – 1 case
• CSWDO – 231 cases
• RENEW Foundation – 4 cases
• The barangays have no record of trafficking cases
Filing Complaints
Available VAWC statistics from the barangays started only in 2007 because the previous barangay
council did not turn over documents to the incoming officials.
The barangay sometimes removed an abuser from his home at the request of the wife or after a
complaint from a neighbor, to prevent the man from beating the victim, but the case was labeled as
“safekeeping” or “temporary custody,” and not VAWC.
There were a number of agreements (kasunduan) signed by both parties recorded in the barangay
logbook, with the male perpetrators promising not to beat their wives/partners again.
VAWC cases recorded in the barangays are low compared to the unreported cases shared by FGD
participants.
There are no consolidated prevalence statistics on VAWC and trafficking cases from 2003-2009.
What the Research Team obtained were separate reports from the two barangays, police, social
service, Family Court and NGO.
Processing complaints
From their responses, the Research Team observed that the barangay officials, the service providers,
and the NGOs have their own processes in handling VAWC cases. There was no standard process.
This general observation was based on the following specifics:
Bgy. Malabanias
The barangay officials were on different levels with regards to their knowledge of the process of
handling VAWC cases. Three said they know that they should blotter the complaint first. Two said
they know that the complainant should secure a medical certificate if needed. Two said they would
work towards an amicable settlement, if this was still possible, but one respondent said mediation was
not allowed. If amicable settlement was not possible, then the woman should file a formal complaint,
said one respondent, after which a summons follows. Five respondents said the summons officer
delivers it to the respondent if he resides within the jurisdiction of the barangay. Five said they will
interview and investigate. One said a BPO would be issued to protect the woman.
VAWC complaints are handled by any of the following individuals: barangay police, barangay
investigators, purok leaders, executive officer, barangay secretary, Lupon members, kagawads and
barangay captain.
Bgy. Amsic
In Bgy. Amsic, VAWC complaints are handled by any of the following: purok leaders, barangay
secretary, executive officer and barangay captain.
With regards to their process of handling VAWC cases, three said they would talk to the
complainant, ask her to secure a medical certificate before she goes to the barangay and then blotter
the complaint. Three said they would inform the complainant of her rights based on R.A. 9262, what
NGO process
• Assess immediate needs (health, security, shelter and/or initial counseling)
• Record the complaint in a logbook
• Do the formal intake (get the vital information on the complaints)
• Interventions (filing complaints, family dialogue, assistance during preliminary investigation
or hearing)
• Do the necessary referrals
• Conduct evaluation (office/home visits as necessary or phone follow-up; follow up to partner
organization)
Referring cases
The duty bearers, service providers and NGOs know the agencies to whom they can refer the VAWC
victim-survivors. Barangay KIs refer them to the DSWD, police Women’s Desks, to other barangays
if the complainant is not from their jurisdiction, to ONA (Angeles City public hospital), and the GAD
office. The city officials refer the victim-survivors to the Barangay Council for the Protection of
Children (BCPC), CIDG, PNP, ONA, NGOs, school (if the survivors need the services of a psychologist),
church, Department of Education (DepEd). The NGOs, in addition, refer them to the Family Courts
and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), barangay, and shelters (IMA/RENEW Foundation). IMA stands for
Ing Makababaying Aksyon, a feminist foundation in Angeles City.
Following up cases
The key informants were also asked if they follow up cases. It is not clear whether service providers
are mandated to follow up cases.
In Bgy. Malabanias, the complainant is instructed to text the barangay officials if the husband/
partner violates the BPO.
Three respondents from Bgy. Amsic said that follow-up is done through house visits by the purok
leaders, or the complainant is given the cell phone number of the barangay official and instructed
to contact him or her if a violation is done.
According to LGU/city officials, follow-ups are done because they are obliged by the court to
submit a quarterly report. This is being done through home visits or phone calls.
The NGOs also do follow-up through visits and phone calls.
There is a lack of mechanism on how to do follow-ups. In the barangays, the two-way radio
facilitates some follow-up but this is not done in a regular and sustained way. The barangay officials
have no way of knowing what happens to the cases once they are referred to the police, GAD office
or CSWDO.
Structural constraints
These refer to the systems and mechanisms that hinder or delay the implementation of the laws. The
KIs cited two structural constraints.
Support mechanisms
There is a lack of support mechanisms, first in terms of material resources, such as the lack of budget,
lack of facilities (like shelters), lack of anti-VAWC desks, problem with the databanking (documentation
and filing), and problem with the turnover of documents from the previous administration to the
new one.
There is even the question of whether the GAD budget is being spent more on staff salaries than
on programs.
The second problem involves human resources, which include lack of staff and more crucially
the lack of trained staff, such as licensed social workers in the barangays. Sometimes the people
assigned to handle VAWC cases lack the passion or the heart for it. In one barangay, they assigned
VAWC cases to a tanod, basically because she was a woman, but who has been tagged by an FGD
participant and a key informant as someone whom they suspect of being an illegal recruiter.
Prosecution service
A very urgent problem that needs to be addressed is the lack of fiscals in the Family Courts.
Law enforcement
Another problem is how to address the complexity of syndicated crime which is also related to the
problem of corruption of law enforcers.
Political constraints
KIs cited two constraints that are political in nature. One is the change of leadership in the LGUs
that can greatly affect GAD efforts and initiatives. One KI rued the loss of a capable, well-trained
GAD focal person who served in the previous administration, but because she was not a member of
the incumbent’s party, she was replaced and the GAD programs she initiated were discontinued.
The second problem is the lack of local women’s organizations. These local organizations could
help promote and sustain anti-VAWC programs in the communities.
Sociocultural constraints
Sociocultural restraints refer to beliefs and attitudes. KIs have cited three groups of people who can
delay the resolution of VAWC cases.
Nature of violence
Physical abuse
All of the five VAWC survivors experienced physical abuse which included slapping, punching,
kicking, hair-pulling, being hit with an object and choking.
Economic abuse
Two of the perpetrators abandoned their families after the wives reported them to the barangay.
Psychological abuse
Aside from being physically violent, two perpetrators were also womanizers. One survivor was
always in a state of fear because the husband threatened to kill her. Another also experienced verbal
abuse from her husband.
VAWC
Belen
Belen is a 41-year-old vendor. She was originally from Batangas City but has been a resident of
Angeles City for 12 years. She had four children with her first husband and five children with her
second partner.
It was with this second partner that she suffered a lot. He would often beat her and the children
when he was drunk. To keep from being beaten, she and the children would keep quiet or leave the
house until he fell asleep. She feared for her life as his punches became harder. It was then that she
sought help from the barangay. Her partner was warned by the barangay that he would be arrested
if he beat his wife again. A BPO was issued and since then the battering has stopped.
Karen
Karen is a 49-year-old mother who came from Samar and has been a resident of Angeles City for
15 years. She lived with her partner for 16 years. Life with him, she said, was like carrying a cross.
He was a heavy equipment operator who only came home on weekends. But when he was home he
didn’t want to know what was going on with his family and spent his time texting women, even
when he was lying in bed with Karen. He was fond of going to bars and spent his income on his
friends and mistresses, leaving none for his family. This led to quarrels with Karen which would
turn violent. He would insult and curse and beat her, dragging her by the hair, banging her head.
This happened from the ‘90s until last year when they separated. It was when he threatened to kill
her that she decided to seek help from the barangay. When a BPO was issued, he left the house and
abandoned his family. What Karen needs is financial support for her three children. The oldest is 14
years old and the youngest is seven. She is now a purok leader and sustains herself and her children
with the little allowance she gets from the barangay.
Delia
Delia is 44 years old. She was originally from Bicol and has been a resident of Angeles for 24 years. She
has three children, one of whom is Amerasian. She was previously a bar girl and also an entertainer
in Japan before she met her live-in partner, with whom she has two children.
She experienced battering from her Filipino partner who was a teacher. He would punch, kick
and strangle her, but she would fight back. When the battering became too much she went to the
barangay and had her complaint blottered. The man was summoned and the couple held a dialogue.
But the battering continued, and the man compounded Delia’s suffering by having other women.
When she could no longer endure his cruelty, she went to the school where he taught and informed
his superiors of how he treated her. He was dismissed from the school, which triggered another
violent episode, but Delia fought back and reported him to the barangay. He left the house and
abandoned his family. She went back to the bar to make a living. It was during this time that she
became pregnant with her Amerasian child. Now that her children have grown, she sustains herself
and her family with the little income she makes from her cell phone loading station.
Trinidad
Trinidad is 34 years old. Originally from Leyte, she was recruited to work as a domestic helper in
Manila. After her one-year contract was finished, she came to Angeles to be with her sister. She
landed as a waitress in a bar. She met a American with whom she had a child. The relationship lasted
for four years. She next lived with a Filipino partner and had four children with him. He was a drug
addict and he was violent with her. When she was pregnant with their first child, he kicked and
punched and hit her with anything he could grab. As a consequence, she had a difficult delivery.
She had just delivered their second child when he beat her again. He was angry because the children
were crying, and instead of helping her to appease them, he got hold of an object and started hitting
her with it. She ran to the barangay and they arrested him. A BPO was issued and she had peace for
15 days. But it was for drug addiction that the man was imprisoned for three years, and during that
time, she became a jueteng collector and sold mats and blankets to sustain herself and her children.
The behavior of the man changed after his imprisonment. He is now earning for the family while
Trinidad takes care of the children. The battering has stopped.
Trafficking
Ofelia
Ofelia is a 22-year-old orphan who left her siblings in Masbate to live in Manila. She was selling
cigarettes at Luneta Park when a trafficker approached her and invited her to come to Angeles to
work as a domestic helper. She was only 16 years old at the time but she jumped at the chance to
earn a regular income. The recruiter brought her to a couple who told her to change to very short
shorts. Then a customer pulled her into a room and raped her. That was six years ago. Today she is
a streetwalker and a pimp controls her life. She works in a poor section of the city and gets as low
as fifteen to twenty pesos per customer. A good day for her is when she gets six customers, because
then she has enough money to buy food.
Bonnie
Bonnie is 12 years old and the trafficking happened a year ago. Her mother is in prison and Bonnie,
her 13-year-old brother and two sisters, ages 8 and 1, were being raised by the family of her stepfather.
One day the brother of her stepfather raped her, but when she told the rapist’s mother and sister, they
warned her not to tell anybody. She left the house and stayed with friends until she met the mother
of one of her friends who offered her work. The woman said that all it entailed was accompanying
foreigners on dates and Bonnie would get paid for it. On her first “date,” the foreigner brought her to
his house, showed her some video and then sexually abused her. She was shocked that she had been
sold by the mother of her friend. She never got any money out of it; the money was paid directly to
the woman. What she got was free board and lodging at her friend’s house. The mother became her
pimp. She was servicing three foreigners a day, twice a week until she was caught by barangay tanods
for violating the curfew while eating out with friends. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise,
because it rescued her from sexual slavery. Three NGOs are now helping her with her recovery.
Miriam
Miriam is 50 years old, married with four children and a member of a local women’s organization.
Three years ago when her food stall was demolished, she decided to work abroad as a sewer. She
experienced slave labor in Mecca. She worked from 16 to 18 hours a day until she collapsed from
overfatigue and depression. She was promised a pay of $500 a month but received only $300 on her
first month, and thereafter got only promises of payment from her employer in the succeeding
months. Her passport and other documents were confiscated. She was padlocked in the shop. Aside
from sewing she also had to clean and cook and perform other domestic duties when all of the
children of the shop owner came on weekends.
When she collapsed, another cleaner brought her to the hospital where she was given an injection.
When they returned to the shop, she collapsed again. She went back to the hospital on her own and
when she regained her strength, she went to the Philippine Embassy in Jeddah, which is two hours
away from Mecca. The Embassy assisted in getting her home and now she is following up her labor
case with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), which she filed almost three years ago.
She has no regular income and the slow legal process is an additional burden. She is so desperate to
raise money so she can attend the hearings that she bets on card games, cockfighting and mahjong.
She hopes her case will be resolved soon and her money claims granted.
Michelle
Michelle was 17 years old when she got an offer to work as a restaurant waitress in Malaysia in
January 2009. The woman who recruited her was married to a Malaysian and she promised Michelle
a salary of 2,000 pesos a month. She asked Michelle to pay a placement fee of 20,000 pesos which
would be deducted from her salary.
Clara
Clara is 34 years old, married, with four children. In 2007, she was recruited to work as a domestic
helper in Malaysia. She paid a processing fee of 10,000 pesos and departed the country with six other
women. They were told to wear white shirts when they went to Clark airport so that they could be
easily identified by the recruiter’s contact at Immigration. All their passports were marked with
an “A” and they were guided to the contact at Immigration. At the Malaysian airport, there was
another contact at Immigration who facilitated their arrival. The Chinese-Malaysian who fetched
them at the airport brought them to his house where he took their cell phones, contact numbers and
passports and then told them to change to sexy dresses. Fortunately for Clara, she was not brought
to a sex den but to a house to work as a domestic helper.
After working there for two weeks, she experienced vertigo, a sickness she was prone to. The
employer returned her to the trafficker, and as the employer had already paid him her salary, the
trafficker was very angry with her. He slapped her and pulled her hair, even as she cried and asked
to be brought to a doctor. Instead, the trafficker told her to call her husband and tell him to produce
50,000 pesos to pay off her debts or else she would be brought to a sex den. But her husband could
only come up with 30,000 pesos so she was not allowed to go home. She begged her trafficker to let
her work again so she could pay the remaining 20,000 pesos. The trafficker agreed and told her that
when she met her employer, she should lie and say that she had been seen by a doctor and had been
pronounced fit to work. The strategy worked and she was taken in.
Observation: Of the six trafficking cases, five are covered by R.A. 9208. The one not covered by the Act happened
in 2001, before the enactment of the law in 2003. Of the five cases, only three filed cases in courts.
The stories below are based on one case study and the narratives of three survivors while their cases were being
investigated by the police.
Fely
Fely is 17 years old and comes from Leyte. Four years ago her father sold her to a local recruiter
to become a domestic helper in Angeles. She often worked 24 hours a day and for three years was
never given a day off. She would occasionally receive around 2,000 pesos. With the small income,
she was still able to send money to her family in the province knowing that they needed it badly.
As a domestic helper, she was often harshly treated. Not only was she verbally abused, she was also
physically and sexually abused. She decided to escape, but again she fell victim to illegal recruiters.
They promised her work as a cultural dancer, but she ended up being sold for sex. She decided to
escape one morning and went to her cousin’s house in Dau. She had met one of the outreach workers
of an NGO while working at the bar and she went to their office and applied to become one of their
scholars. She is now busy with her studies and she hopes to be reunited with her family someday.
Gladys
Gladys is a teenage mother of 16. On June 14, 2007, she was recruited to work in Malaysia as a waitress.
She was promised a good income with free accommodation and food. She grabbed the opportunity
because she has a child to raise. After three days, she and the other recruits signed a contract and
were flown to Malaysia via Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark.
At the airport in Malaysia, they were met by a man who brought them to their lodging house,
where he left them without giving them any food. When night came, another man fetched them.
He brought them to a club where they were instructed to entertain customers. They were asked
to drink with the customers, and since they hadn’t eaten, they easily got drunk and didn’t know
what happened to them that night. They realized that they had been hired as prostitutes and not as
waitresses as promised. They worked for three days and three nights without food.
Fortunately, they met a Filipino who took pity on them and allowed them to use his cell phone
to contact their families. They told them about their situation in Malaysia. The families were able
to trace the recruiter in the Philippines and talked to her. She demanded that they pay her 111,000
pesos in exchange for their release. They got her to agree to an initial payment of 41,000 pesos on
June 27, 2007. The family then filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and
an entrapment operation was planned and executed. On July 2, 2007, Gladys and her companions
were sent home. Since she is a minor, she was turned over to the proper authorities. Her case is still
pending while she undergoes the rehabilitation process.
Irene
Irene is a 17-year-old student. She was recruited on May 22, 2008 for Malaysia. She asked the recruiter
if it was possible for her to go abroad even as a minor. The recruiter told her that it was in fact easier to
send a minor abroad. She went to the recruiter’s house on June 4 and left for Malaysia on June 6 with
ten other girls. She was told that she would be working as a waitress in a casino. A woman fetched
them at the airport in Malaysia and they stayed in her house. The following day, she bought them
Recommendations
The recommendations that came from the service providers, LGU representatives, barangay officials
and advocates were more on long-term and continuing responses to VAWC.
They made no recommendations regarding the immediate needs of VAWC survivors and their
immediate families (please refer to Table 21).
The survivors’ recommendations were also long-term and continuing responses to VAWC. They
also had no recommendations for immediate responses to VAWC survivors and their immediate
families (please refer to Table 22).
For barangays
• To set up anti-VAWC desks staffed with well-trained people, preferably licensed social workers
• To use the standard intake and update card for each victim-survivor as suggested by the
Philippine Commission on Women to facilitate consolidation of VAWC cases
• To improve the documentation, filing and turnover of VAWC cases to get accurate prevalence
statistics on VAWC
• To discontinue the practice of amicable settlements and signing of kasunduan in VAWC cases
• To record “temporary custody/safekeeping” cases as VAWC cases
• To tie up with NGOs
• To improve advocacy on R.A.s 9262 and 9208 to reach more women and children and the
community in general
• To come up with a unified strategy and programs to address VAW at the local level
For LGUs
a. Recommendations related to information dissemination:
• Distribute pamphlets/brochures about the laws to the community.
• Provide information materials like primers, leaflets, etc.
• Use television to inform people about R.A. 9262.
b. Recommendations related to training:
• Training and continuous training to service providers to upgrade knowledge and skills
• Seminars in the barangays on human rights, especially for new barangay officials
• Refresher courses for the implementers
• Capability-building for the stakeholders, especially for new police officers
• Mentoring of women
• Further training for the youth
For women
• To mentor other women
• To uplift victim-survivors, especially trafficked survivors, instead of putting them down
• To verify the legality of the recruitment agency
• To talk to more than one person if you want to work abroad
For children
• For children who have been rescued and placed in shelters, to open up and share their concerns
with their social workers instead of running away from them.
For NGOs
• To continue educating women on gender equality and on their rights and those of their children,
especially if the mother is not married to the father
• To provide livelihood skills training
Aida Santos-Maranan, Project Manager with Angeles City Mayor Francis Nepomuceno signing the MoU.
Alpha Allanigui, Assistant Project Manager (at the center of the table) facilitating an FGD session.
Validation Workshop
Overall Findings
VAWC
• VAWC is happening in the communities as can be seen from the statistics gathered from the four
barangays (Bgys. Gordon Heights and West Bajac-bajac in Olongapo City and Bgys. Amsic and
Malabanias in Angeles City), and from the reports of the PNP, CSWDO, NGOs and Family Courts.
• Woman battering is the most common VAWC-related complaint brought to the attention of the
barangays. Other complaints are economic abuse (abandonment and lack of financial support
for the family), verbal abuse (women are insulted, cursed), psychological abuse (women are
troubled by the womanizing of their husbands/partners), sexual abuse (women are forced to
give in to the sexual demands of their husbands/partners), and child abuse.
• Three of the 10 interviewed VAWC survivors were battered while pregnant. One was battered from
her fourth month to her ninth month of pregnancy. The baby was dead when it was delivered.
According to the Women’s Crisis Center (WCC), six out of 10 abused women are battered during
pregnancy. The 2008 survey of the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that
four out of 100 pregnant women experience physical violence.
• Three of the five VAWC survivors from Olongapo said that the perpetrators were their husbands
and two said they were live-in partners. In Angeles, all five perpetrators were live-in partners.
This ties in with the NDHS survey which says that 54.7 percent of VAW perpetrators are the
husbands or male partners, making the home an unsafe place for women and children.
• According to the NDHS survey, only 9.3 percent of battered women go to the police and 6.0
percent go to a social service organization. Of the 10 VAWC survivors interviewed, nine went to
the police when they felt their lives were in danger.
• VAWC incidence in Olongapo using CSWDO data from 2005-2008 was 265 cases or an average
of 66 cases per year. In Angeles, it was 83 cases from 2004-2009, an average of 14 cases per year
(CSWDO data). But key informants and FGD participants talked about cases that had never been
reported.
• Women are repeatedly beaten, yet do not file cases in court or withdraw them later for the sake
of the children. One wife urged the court to release her husband so the children wouldn’t lose
their father.
• The non-cooperation of victims adds to the difficulty of helping the women.
• Service providers are also at risk when the perpetrators have ties to the police or military or
have access to firearms. Two service providers have been personally threatened.
• Barangay officials know the mechanics of handling VAWC cases. But some actively encourage
couples to amicably settle their cases.
• The barangays need to improve their documentation, filing and turnover of files to have more
accurate reports on VAWC.
Trafficking
• Statistics on trafficking cases is low due to its underground nature. The highest number of
trafficking cases recorded in Olongapo (2005-2008) per CSWDO record is 25 cases (an average of
six cases per year), while in Angeles, it is 231 cases (2005-2009), an average of 46 cases per year.
Reporting of cases was minimal to none in the barangays under study. Only Bgy. West Bajac-
bajac had two cases in its logbook, one recorded in 2005 and another one in 2007. But KIs and FGD
participants had many stories to tell about trafficking happening in their communities.
• The underreporting of trafficking is due to several factors:
— Stories from trafficked survivors and key informants revealed the involvement of syndicates
running operations. One of the trafficked survivors was a minor but she was able to work in
Malaysia. Traffickers have contacts within the Immigration departments of the airport in
Clark and the airport in Malaysia. Locally, bars which have been raided for using minors or
prostituting women are able to reopen or renew their business permits, indicating that they
have connections in city hall.
— Some barangay and city officials are bar owners themselves.
— Some police can be paid to look the other way.
— The victims often do not know the identities of their recruiters, making it difficult for them
to file a case.
— It is difficult to catch pimps and get evidence of prostitution, so streetwalkers who are picked
up by the police are charged with vagrancy and not classified as trafficking victims.
— When minors refuse to admit that they have been trafficked, the case becomes a prostitution
case and not trafficking.
• The presence of syndicates is an added constraint to helping survivors.
• Syndicated crime is very complicated and needs trained people to address this.
• Of the 11 trafficked survivors interviewed for this report, five landed as bar girls in local bars,
and six were transported abroad—four as bar girls, one as domestic helper, and one as a sewer.
• Another constraint to the resolution of trafficking cases is when the recruiter/trafficker is able
to avoid arrest, hindering the progress of cases filed. This is one of the reasons why some cases
are archived.
• In Olongapo, the number of entertainment establishments that employ women increased from
149 establishments in 2007 to 169 establishments in 2008 and to 203 establishments in 2009 (please
refer to Graph 1 on p. 307). In Angeles, there were 138 establishments in 2005, which increased to
209 in 2006, maintained its number in 2007, and decreased to 122 in 2008.
• The number of workers in these establishments increased from 1,708 workers in 2006, to 1,810
in 2009. But these are only the registered workers. There are unregistered workers such as the
For LGUs
Recommendations related to information dissemination
• Distribute pamphlets/brochures about the laws to the community;
• Provide information materials like primers, leaflets, etc.; and,
• Use multimedia to inform people about R.A.s 9262 and 9208.
For NGOs
• Conduct empowerment programs for women and youth to increase their rights-claiming
capacities.
• Increase community awareness on trafficking and VAWC.
• Increase community participation in the advocacy against trafficking and VAWC.
• Help government set up programs for women.
• Advocate for enhanced GO-NGO-private sector cooperation, dialogue and collaboration.
For communities
Male participation
• There is recognition that men’s VAWC will not end without male participation in the effort to
prevent it. It is recommended to organize gender-conscious men to have roles congruent with
current women’s initiatives in the prevention of VAWC and to employ gender-sensitive men in
counseling male perpetrators.
• Support MOVE in its objective of involving men in addressing VAWC in the communities.
Adolescents
• Young people need to be educated as early as possible on the dangers posed to their reproductive
health by risky sexual behavior and gender-based violence.
• Increase youth consciousness and involvement in addressing VAWC.
• Come up with a program for teenage mothers.
Women’s involvement
• Women’s organizations in the different areas of the country are encouraged to network on the
issues of VAWC and trafficking.
• Women’s organizations can link up with government agencies, or with the Women’s Council so
they can be updated on the laws, ordinances, resolutions and policies that women can use for
their protection and well-being.
Parents
• Conceptualize a program for parents/families on how to deal with incest.
VAWC advocates
• Get VAW advocates into positions of decision-making, by electing them to barangay, municipal,
city and provincial councils.
Additional References:
A Paper prepared by Ms. Eileen Skinnider, Associate, International Center for Reform of Criminal Law and
Criminal Justice Policy, Vancouver, Professor Marcia Kran and Mr. Robert Adamson, Associates and
Professor Ian Townsend-Gault, Director, Center for Asian Legal Studies, Faculties of Law, University
of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. This paper is an annex to the Proceedings of the 1997 Regional
Conference on Trafficking in Women and Children by the Mekong Region Law Center and Office of the National
Commission on Women’s Affairs of Thailand.
WEDPRO’s approved proposal to the European Union. 2009. Private and Public Faces of Violence against Women:
Addressing Domestic Violence and Trafficking in the Urban Poor Communities and “Red Light Districts” of Angeles
City and Olongapo City.
Virola, Romulo. 2010. Violence against Women…At Home! National Statistical Coordination Board.
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2010/030810_rav_vaw.asp
Human Trafficking Statistics
http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/Rescueproject/stats.pdf
United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, Frequently Asked Questions on a Human Rights-Based
Approach to Development.
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FAQen.pdf
Total = 63 cases
Table 3. Statistics on VAWC and Trafficking Cases Filed in Family Courts - Angeles City
VAWC VAWC VAWC VAWC VAWC VAWC
Data Trafficking
cases filed cases filed cases filed cases filed cases filed cases filed
Source cases
in 2004 in 2005 in 2006 in 2007 in 2008 in 2009
Judge Erum
1 39 48 38 19
(Branch 61)
Judge Pinto
1 17 39 12 8 0 9
(Branch 60)
Judge
Quiambao 16 6
(Branch 59)
Total 1 17 39 51 56 54 34
Total number of VAWC cases from 2004 -2009 = 218 cases
Total number of trafficking cases = 34 cases
Table 6. Status of VAWC Cases with Petition for TPO/PPO - Angeles City
(please refer to Annex 13)
Data source Pending Dismissed Withdrawn Decided
Branch 61 13 3 1 4
Branch 60
Branch 59 4 (issued with TPOs/PPOs)
Total 13 3 1 8
a) Human resources
• Creation of inter-agency committee against human trafficking
• Setting up of Women’s Desk in all police stations
• Ensuring gender-sensitivity among staff involved in handling VAW cases
• Conduct of VAWC training in Bgys. Malabanias and Amsic by DILG, DSWD and
GAD office.
• At city level, CSWDO had four-day training on trafficking conducted by the DSWD.
PNP had VAWC training conducted in Camp Crame.
• Orientation seminars given to leaders, volunteers, women’s groups
b) Material resources
• Setting up of GAD Office, Gender and Dev’t. Resource Center, Teen Information
Center
• Posters given for display in barangay halls, health centers
NGOs conduct their own trainings, in-house orientations and conferences. One NGO has
had training on practical counseling, AIDS prevention and legal issues training.
Inter-agency cooperation • Cooperation from the PNP Women’s Desk, they have permanent social worker in
the hospital, and with DSWD; and in the barangay level, they have somebody as-
signed to women’s affairs
• GAD office provides legal assistance
• With regards to trafficking, they work with inter-agency council against drugs
Link-up with NGOs • Former GAD office linked up with End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT)
because of the trafficking issue
Use television to feature some VAWC cases of prominent personalities in show business
Info dissemination
and politics
For other stakeholders a) Financial assistance to women who would like to start
their own businesses
b) Awareness programs in the communities
c) Four-fold program composed of worship, education,
home visits and fellowship
d) Training sessions on VAW issues at local level
CSWDO
For survivor’s
• Limited financial assistance for the food and
immediate family
medical needs of the survivor’s family
Barangay officials
• Conducts orientation on the laws with the
mothers in coordination with GAD office
a) Problem with the support mechanisms • The staff who are trained a) Attitude of the community towards
• Lack of budget to facilitate service to handle VAWC cases can survivors
delivery (i.e., for photocopying, filing be replaced in the next • Trafficked survivors who return to
fee, transport expenses when bringing administration if they are their communities face stigma and
rescued girls to shelters) not of the same political apathy.
• GAD budget spent more on staff party.
salaries instead of on programs • If the people in power are b) Attitude of the family re: incest
• Lack of facilities (where to bring the not from the same political • Some incest cases are not reported
rescued victims; if they are placed in a party with the previous because they believe the family name
local shelter, relatives might come to implementers of GAD should be protected.
convince them not to testify anymore) program, they may not • People are not aware of the violence
• No Anti-VAWC desk support/sustain the initia- happening within their homes.
• Lack of licensed social workers in the tives/programs that have • The children are scolded if they
barangays been started. report it to their parents/elders.
• Lack of trained staff to handle VAWC
c) Attitude of the victim-survivor
b) Problems related to training • VAWC complainant loses interest in
• People assigned to VAWC cases do her case and agrees to reconcile with
not know the process of handling husband/partner.
them. • Women won’t file cases or fail to
-- They do not know how to take down pursue them because they believe
case reports. marriage is sacred.
-- They do not know how to deal with • They can’t separate or file for annul-
victim-survivors. ment because they don’t have their
• They make no effort to know what own income.
gender and development is all about. • Trafficking cases are settled because
• They may be guilty of offenses against victims are given money by the
women themselves such as illegal suspects.
recruitment.
• They lack passion for the work. d) Attitude of barangay officials to RA
• Those who joined trainings may not 9262
have internalized it and cannot apply • Some barangay officials perceive RA
what they learned. 9262 as anti-men.
• They are not well-versed in the laws. • They believe the issuance of BPO can
-- Some cases have been dismissed lead to broken families.
because the service provider did not • They believe marriage is sacred,
know the technicalities involved. so they try to get couples to settle
amicably.
d) Problems with the prosecution service There are few local women’s
• The court process is slow, compli- organizations that battered or
cated and expensive, which may force trafficked women can run to
victims to desist and return to abusive for assistance.
relations, or refuse to testify against
traffickers.
• There are too few fiscals and judges
for the volume of cases in the dockets,
a chief cause of delay in disposition
of cases.
Table 13. Trafficking Cases Culled from Key Informants and FGD Participants
Case number Trafficking cases
The KI heard a mother reporting to the barangay the case of her daughter who was confined to a hospital
due to an infection. The daughter had been missing for two months and she later learned that her daugh-
1 ter had been brought to a club in San Fernando and gotten sick while working there. The recruiter was
caught, but the KI doesn’t know how the case was resolved.
2 There was a raid and a foreigner was arrested for trafficking children.
Two years ago, a cyber sex business in Plaridel near Clark was raided. The owner was a foreigner, 10-20
3 women were involved.
4 KI knows of another cyber sex case that is now in court.
5 Two children victimized by cyber sex were released by authorities after three days.
Stories about cyber sex businesses circulate in the community, but they are hard to catch or confirm
6 because the women work in houses.
Majority of the trafficking cases in Angeles are those sent to Malaysia, ostensibly to work as waitresses
7 or domestic helpers, but who end up being trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced labor.
KI says they have 16 unresolved cases and two semi-resolved cases. They had a case that involved a
8 Singaporean tourist, who has been arrested, tried and imprisoned in Malaysia.
In 2005-2007, there were 173 cases but not all were reported cases. Other cases were known as a result
9 of rescue operations. Trafficked girls are placed in bars or employed as house help.
KIs know that reported cases of trafficking do not reflect extent of problem as there are victims in hiding
10 and not yet ready or willing to report.
Girls are encouraged to engage in cyber sex because they get P5,000 per session. Parents themselves
11 bring their children to cyber sex dens in nice subdivisions.
Two women were recruited to go to Cyprus and were made to work in brothels. KIs assisted them, but
only one decided to come home. The other had debts so she decided to remain there.
12
Four minors who were made to work as cyber sex models by their grandmother were rescued and are
now in Haven, a shelter.
A woman applied for work in Singapore. She was promised a salary of $350 but got only $300. This is
13 classified as a labor case under R.A. 9208 because it happened in 2003.
An 18-year-old woman met a man on the Internet who befriended her and supported her studies and other
needs, and courted her. He invited her to take a tour of Australia. He fetched her at the airport and checked
her into a hotel. The expected tour never happened. She was made to do sexual acts and was videotaped.
14 She was helplessly trapped there for a month. She did everything the man asked her to do because she
feared for her life. She was given money for shopping and when she was allowed to go home, he gave her
50,000 pesos as “recompense” for the ordeal, abuse and sexual exploitation she went through. The video
was uploaded on the Internet and is available to anyone who pays to see it.
15 KIs rescued five cyber sex victims. The suspects were relatives (grandmother, aged 68, and an aunt).
16 KIs and FGD participants say they know of some trafficking cases.
• Sexual 1 year – 1 2003, when survivors was 16 years old Shocked at first but con- Victim rescued/
abuse – 4 6 months – 1 (covered by RA 9208) tinued working because escaped/ filed a
• Slave 3 months – 1 of high pay – 1 case – 3
labor – 2 1 month – 1
No data – 2 2001, when survivor was 22 years old Too young to resist – 2
(not covered by law) Stopped being a
cyber sex model
2009, when one survivor was 11 years Escaped and filed a –1
old and another was 17 years old (both case – 2
covered by law) Didn’t file a case
because it is too
2006, when survivor was 47 years old Did not file a case – 1 expensive – 1
(covered by law)
No action – 1
2007, when survivor was 31 years old
(covered by law)
Friend – 3 • Better future for their children – 2 Only one respondent heard about their ba-
Sister – 1 • For her children not to experience rangay asking people to attend an anti-VAWC
None – 5 sexual abuse – 1 training
No data – 2 • Financial support for her children
–1
• For her sisters not to experience
similar sexual abuse – 1
• That her case will be resolved and
she can claim the money due her as
slave labor victim – 1
VAW victim- None • Financial support from the government so they can
survivors pursue their case, i.e., providing them with capital
for business
• Attitude of victim-survivors
-- The woman should be firm about pursuing her
case.
For other stakehold- Add more fiscals to Family Courts a) Provision of knowledge to all stakeholders
ers (service provid- • For the quick disposal of cases to • Information dissemination in communities
ers, law enforcers, lessen victims’ expenses, which -- so women are armed with knowledge of the law
LGU representatives, sometimes causes them to desist or -- so men know that they can be imprisoned for
barangay officials, lose interest violating the Anti-VAWC Act
advocates, volun- • Training and continuous training to upgrade
teers, etc.) knowledge and skills
• Orientation seminars for new barangay officials
• Further training for the youth
• Refresher courses for the implementers
• Capability-building for the stakeholders, espe-
cially for new police officers
• Mentoring of women
• Human rights seminars in the barangays
Paksa: Pambubugbog
Petsa: 03/29/09
Oras: 7:00
Ako si XXXXXX nasa wastong gulang nakatira sa XXXXXXX, Amsic, OC. Ako ay nagtungo sa himpilan ng Bantay Bayan upang
ipagsumbong ang aking asawa ukol sa kanyang pananakit sa akin. At ito aking salaysay SS:
Dumating sa bahay ang aking asawa na lango sa alak sa di malaman na dahilan siya ay galit at mainit ang ulo dahilan para kami
ay magtalo habang kami ay nag-aaway tinapon niya ang tubig at kinalabog ang pinto dahilan para ako tamaan sa kanang bahagi
na tagiliran at nagkasugat habang ay sinususulat ay nais ko lamang na siya ay manahimik at pag hindi muli akong babalik at
sampahan ng kaso at ako ay lalagda na kusang loob at walang pumilit.
XXXXXX XXXXXX
(signed) Nagreklamo Attested
Annex 4
Bgy. Amsic VAWC Cases Reported to DILG
Cases Reported to DILG/MTC by Qtr
2009
2nd Qtr 19 cases
3rd Qtr 34 cases
4th Qtr 10 cases
By: Wiliam Casteneda, Bgy. Secretary, Amsic, Feb. 3, 2010
Note: These were the cases blottered in 2009.
07-3389 Violation of Sec. 5(i) of RA 9262 (Oct. 11, 2007) Withdrawn and dropped per Order dated Oct. 24, 2007
07-3397 Violation of RA 9262 (Oct. 16, 2007) Provisionally dismissed on Nov. 03, 2009
Violation of Sec. 5(e)(2) of RA 9262 (Oct. 23, Archived on May 30, 2008. Alias warrant of arrest was
07-3419
2007) issued on June 26, 2008
Violation of Sec. 5(a) penalized under sec. 6(a) of
07-3431 Withdrawn and dropped per Order dated Nov. 26, 2007
RA 9262 (Nov. 8, 2007).
Violation of Sec. 5 Par. (a) penalized under sec-
07-3449 Provisionally dismissed on Dec. 10, 2007
tion 6(2) of RA 9262 (Nov. 13, 2007)
Violation of Sec. 5(e)(2) of RA 9262 (Nov. 16,
07-3459 Transferred to RTC Br. 59 on Jan. 20, 2009
2007)
Violation of Sec. 5(e)(2) of RA 9262 (Nov. 28, Archived on June 20, 2008. Alias warrant of arrest was
07-3486
2007) issued on June 26, 2008
Violation of Sec. 5(e)(2) of RA 9262 (Dec. 3,
07-3491 Continuation of cross-examination set for Feb. 04, 2010
2007).
07-3515 Violation of Sec. 5(b) of RA 9262 (Dec. 20, 2007) Provisionally dismissed per Order dated Jan. 29, 2008
07-3516 Violation of Sec. 21 of RA 9262 (Dec. 20, 2007) Provisionally dismissed per Order dated Jan. 29, 2008
Violation of Sec. 5(2), penalized under Sec. 6(2) Archived on Aug. 29, 2009; alias warrant of arrest issued
07-3522
of RA 9262 (Dec. 20, 2007) on Sept. 29, 2008
Violation of Sec. 5(2), penalized under Sec. 6(2) Archived on Aug. 29, 2009; alias warrant of arrest issued
07-3523
of RA 9262 (Dec. 20, 2007). on Sept. 29, 2009
Violation of Sec. 5(e) (2) of RA 9262 (Dec. 27,
07-3534 Warrant of arrest issued on January 14, 2008
2007)
Violation of Sec. 5(e) (2) of RA 9262, Jan. 07,
08-3546 Forwarded to OCC, RTC on Aug. 04, 2008 for re-raffle
2008
13743 Violation against RA 9262 Nov. 09, 2007
Violation of Sec. 5(h) in relation to Sec. Warrant of arrest issued against the accused
09-5185 Nov. 06, 2009
6(f) of RA 9262 on Nov. 20, 2009
Violation of Sec. 5(a), penalized under
09-5215 Nov. 20, 2009 Withdrawn and dropped on Dec. 16, 2009
Sec. 6(a) of RA 9262
Violation of Sec. 5 (e)(2) in relation to Sec.
09-5218 Nov. 24, 2009 Warrant of arrest issued on Dec. 03, 2009
6(a) of RA 9262
Violation of Sec. 5(a), penalized under
09-5221 Nov. 24, 2009 Withdrawn and dropped on Dec. 04, 2009
Sec. 6(a) of RA 9262
Violation of Sec. 5(e) in relation to Sec. 6 Arraignment of accused and pre-trial set for
09-5252 Dec. 09, 2009
(c) of R. A. 9262 Jan. 21, 2010
Arraignment of accused and pre-trial set for
09-5266 Violation of Sec. 5(a) of RA 9262 Dec. 15, 2009
Jan. 28, 2010
Continuation of direct examination of peti-
13743 Violation of RA 9262 Nov. 09, 2007
tioner was reset to Jan. 26, 2010
Violation of RA No. 9262 and Prayer for
13753 the Issuance of a Temporary Protection Nov. 20, 2007 Dismissed on June 16, 2009
Order
Violation of RA 9262, with a Prayer for
12058 Support pending litigation, Damages and May 06, 2005 Hearing of case reset to Jan. 13, 2010
Issuance of a Protection Order
Violation of Section 6 of RA
Arraignment of all the
09-4915 and 9208 (Qualified Trafficking in
July 24, 2009 accused reset to Jan. 21,
09-4919 Persons) and violation of Sec.
2010
5, Art. III of RA 7610
Violation of Sec. 6 of RA
Arraignment of all the
09-4916 and 9208 (Qualified Trafficking in
July 24, 2009 accused reset to Jan. 21,
09-4917 Persons) and violation of Sec.
2010
5, Art. III of RA 7610
Annex 18
Three Essential Questions to the Research
i. What measures have been taken by the LGUs to fully implement the Anti-VAWC and Anti-Trafficking laws in their re-
spective localities?
ii. What are the enabling and disabling factors to the full implementation of these laws?