45 child abuse cases in Baguio reported

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported that there were some forty-five child abuse cases that were documented by the city government in various barangays in the city last year.

CSWDO Gender and Development (GAD) focal person Myrna Valencerina claimed that of the said cases, 12 cases had already been filed with the proper authorities while there are still 33 cases that remain unfilled for various reasons.               

The CSWDO official claimed that 2 cases had already been provided with decisions by the concerned authorities while 10 cases are still undergoing trial with the proper courts.               

She explained that the 33 pending cases are reportedly undergoing the appropriate intervention programs being spearheaded by the CSWDO and other partners to allow the reformation of those involved in the said cases before they will be allowed to join mainstream society. 

According to her, of the abused children, 40 are females and 5 are males who were said to be victims of various abuses.

Among the types of abuses committed against the children include sexual abuse with 31 female victims; physical abuse with 7 female and 4 male victims; psychological abuse with 1 female victim, and neglect with 1 male and 1 female victim.   

In terms of the age bracket, most of the abused children belong to the 11-18 age group with 36 cases followed by those belonging to the below 5 years old bracket with 6 and 3 cases for those in the 6 to 10 years old age bracket. By Dexter A. see