ABSTRACT
Despite established legal frameworks like Republic Act 9262, violence against women (VAW) remains a critical issue in the Philippines, with a significant gap in research regarding why victims choose not to pursue legal action. This study explores the underlying factors behind victims’ refusal to file VAW cases in the Province of Albay, focusing on Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco cities. Using a phenomenological qualitative research method, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who had experienced violence but opted not to file formal charges. The findings reveal a pattern of non-reporting, particularly in Legazpi City, which recorded the highest number of refusals; specifically, among married women over the age of 30 with high school-level education. Key barriers identified include financial dependence, as housewives relying on their partners for support feared losing their homes and basic necessities. Additionally, sociocultural factors such as hiya (shame) and the perceived sanctity of marriage create a wall of silence, where survivors endure abuse to protect family reputation or children's welfare. The study also highlights how abusers manipulate parental responsibilities and legal status to maintain control even after separation. The research concludes that for many victims, refusing to file a case is a strategic survival choice rather than a sign of weakness. To address these systemic barriers, the study proposes the “LAKAS-Pamilya: Paglaya, Pagbangon, at Pagkalinga” program. This initiative aims to transform local barangays into proactive safety nets by prioritizing economic self-efficacy, legal literacy, and psychological support to empower survivors to break the cycle of violence.
Keywords: Violence Against Women (VAW), Republic Act 9262, Albay Province, Non-reporting, Economic Dependence, LAKAS-Pamilya Program, Legal Literacy.
INTRODUCTION
Women play an integral role in the society. They are the backbone of families and are crucial to the growth and development of communities (Fawad, 2023). While children are the extraordinary blessing to any nation; they are the greatest gift to humanity. They have limitless potential and are useful human resources for the progress of the country (Nagpal, 2020). Yet, women and children are still relegated to the sidelines, subjected to discrimination and marginalization.
At the global level, violence against women persists as a prevalent issue. According to the UNICEF research study on Children’s Protection and Well-being, it estimates that around two-thirds of children aged 1-14 years have experienced violent discipline from their caregivers, and more than a quarter of women will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. (WHO Geneva, 2024). Such findings highlight how violence not only affects individual welfare but also deters societal progress, continuing cycles of marginalization.
Narrowing to the national level, many women and children are still suffering from multiple types of violence which greatly affects their life and welfare. Even with the existing laws and punishments violence still thrives in the Philippines and the numbers are high. The Republic Act No. 9262 also known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004”, is a Philippines government initiative intended to address the issue of violence against women and children.
The search queries in the Philippines related to violence against women and children (VAWC) and sexual, physical, psychological violence rose by 63 percent during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to GABRIELA. Many of the women cited joblessness and ensuing economic hardships during the pandemic as factors to the worsening abuse they face at home, according to GABRIELA Secretary-General Joms Salvador (Baron, 2021).
One of the Philippines’ primary responses to the COVID-19 has been the imposition of the so-called ‘community quarantines. The government has enforced differing levels of restrictions on people’s mobility and economic activities by suspending public transport, requiring people to stay indoors, shutting down certain businesses, shifting to work- and study-from-home arrangements, declaring local curfews, and setting up checkpoints.
The first few weeks of the lockdown already saw an increase in reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly against women. In Quezon City, for example, the Women and Children’s Desk is reported to have processed at least 12 complaints per week during the first two weeks – more than twice the number they were receiving before the pandemic reached the Philippines. Overall, during the first four months of the lockdown (March to June 2020), some 4,260 cases of violence against women and children were reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP), of which 2,183 were committed against women (Berse et al., 2021). The agency noted that the reporting of complaints may have been affected by ‘the restricted movement in the communities, suspension of public transportation, victims being locked down with their perpetrators, lack of communication channels, and lack of information on where/how to report.
The Bicol Region has not been immune to this trend. Based on the report of the PNP Regional Women’s and Children Protection Desk in the Bicol region, a total of 2, 512 incidents that victimized women and children were recorded for year 2020. These include 737 VAWC cases such as physical; psychological; economic; and sexual abuse while 659 rape cases have been noted. On the recorded rape incidents, 313 were solved; 341 were cleared while 5 are still under investigation. Meanwhile, on the VAWC cases 187 were cleared; 545 were solved while 5 are still under investigation (Bicol Mail, 2020).
As for the preliminary data gathered by the researcher from the Albay Police Provincial Office- Women and Children’s Desk Unit, there are cases of Violence Against Women wherein the victims refused to file cases against their perpetrators. From the year 2022, there are 93 cases recorded, 27 of these cases victims refused to file the case. Also, for the year 2023, where there are 333 cases recorded, 1 case wherein the suspect died, 81 cases were filed against the suspect and 252 refused to do so. Another record from the last year, 2024, with a 339 recorded VAWC cases, 279 of these were not filed, 56 filed cases and 4 were under investigation. These figures highlight a pattern of non-reporting, where victims choose not to pursue legal action despite available support.
The researcher focuses to explore the underlying factors behind victims’ refusal to file Violence Against Women (VAW) Cases in the Province of Albay, which comprises 15 municipalities and three component cities which are the Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco.
While global, national, and local studies show that violence against women (VAW) is common and current efforts to stop it are not enough, there is an important gap: not much research looks at the main reasons why victims choose not to file cases. Past studies focus on numbers and government policies but do not explain enough about personal, social, and system-level problems that stop people from reporting. This study fills that gap by examining the many reasons why victims refuse to file Violence Against Women (VAW) cases in the Province of Albay. By closely looking at victim backgrounds, economic issues, and other local factors, the research aims to give a full picture of these patterns. This can guide specific actions to increase reports, help victims feel stronger, and make local protections better. By focusing on Albay, the study helps in the bigger fight against VAWC, linking world knowledge to practical, local solutions.
see PDF attachment for more information