NCRFW condemns all acts of violence vs. women

The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) condemns all acts of violence against women, whether they are inflicted by government officials or ordinary citizens.

In a statement, NCRFW Chairperson Myrna T. Yao said that no one is exempted from Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and the recently-signed Magna Carta of Women or Republic Act No. 9710.

Chair Yao was reacting to the case involving Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson and his common-law wife for 17 years, Rachel “Che” Tiongson.

According to Chair Yao, what is most despicable in the case is that Singson himself admitted that he had inflicted harm on Tiongson and her alleged boyfriend and even bragged that he was even lenient because he did not kill both of them.

Chair Yao said that nobody, especially a public official, has the license to kill or harm anybody whether physically, verbally, emotionally, or economically. “Whatever wrong Ms. Tiongson has done to him, Singson could have sought redress in the proper courts.

Malacañang had earlier asked Singson to go on voluntary leave and submit himself to the judicial process, stressing that it will not stand in the way of any court action against him.

Sec. 2 of RA 9262 declares that “the Sate values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women and children, from violence and threats to the personal safety and security.”

“Towards this end,” the law further says, “the State shall exert efforts to address violence committed against women and children in keeping with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other international human rights instruments of which the Philippines is a party.”

Chair Yao said that the NCRFW is mandated to coordinate with other concerned government agencies, particularly the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Justice, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and the Department of Interior and Local Government in the implementation of RA 9262.

Chair Yao also said that the Magna Carta of Women, which was signed into law by President Arroyo on August 14, 2009, has also called for the protection of women from violence and agencies of government shall give priority to the defense and protection of women against gender-based offenses and help women attain justice and healing.