Girls make up most child victims in Cordillera; sexual cases most prevalent

BAGUIO, Philippines – Next to rape, child abuse ranks as the second most frequently reported form of gender-based violence in the Cordillera, with most victim-survivors being girls and sexual abuse as the most common case, data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region showed.

In 2024, at least 137 cases of child abuse were recorded in 70 of 77 Cordillera municipalities, based on reported violations of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (RA 7610). The figures do not yet include data from known hotspots such as Baguio City, La Trinidad in Benguet, and Tabuk City in Kalinga.

Updated data, expected in the second half of 2025, will also include cases involving children reported under other laws, such as rape, acts of lasciviousness, and violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.

Social workers in the region said numbers alone do not reflect the urgency of timely intervention. Beyond rescue, long-term recovery requires psychosocial support, therapy, and family-based reintegration.

One challenge is the shortage of psychologists in the country. As of December 2024, only 2,350 were registered nationwide. Psychologists, who hold advanced degrees and clinical experience, are tapped for a range of cases, including mental health interventions and annulment proceedings.

Such lack of access puts more pressure on frontline social workers and limits the mental health services available to survivors. A single social worker may handle up to nine cases at once, each with complex needs, said Joyce Ayasao, a regional DSWD social worker.

“People need to understand the long-lasting and deep wounds that abuse, especially sexual abuse, inflicts,” Ayasao said, stressing the importance of early and sustained therapy.

Whenever possible, authorities prioritize placing children in the care of nurturing relatives rather than institutionalizing them long-term.

“That’s why it is very important to strengthen community-based services, which includes the family and community surrounding the survivor,” said Rojhelea An Marie Claur, head of the DSWD’s Haven for Women and Girls. “Institutionalization should be the last resort.”

Cycle of abuse

Many cases fail to reach court due to stigma, financial burden, or pressure from relatives to settle quietly, especially when perpetrators are family members.

Claur warned that impunity can lead to repeated abuse or perpetuate a cycle where victims later become abusers themselves.

In cases involving minors as perpetrators, mental health experts advocate for restorative justice programs focused on education, empathy, and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Psychologist Rac General of the group MindNation said these programs should also involve families and include moral, social, and psychological education to help young offenders understand the harm caused.

Barriers to reporting

Despite multiple avenues to report abuse – including police and barangay desks, schools, hospitals, local government offices, and NGOs – many cases remain hidden.

“There is a culture of silence stemming from shame,” said Chit Habon, executive director of the Child and Family Service Philippines Incorporated. “Victims fear being blamed or judged.”

Ayasao said sustained awareness campaigns remain key to encouraging reporting and preventing abuse before it occurs.

Hope and education

Despite the challenges, advocates said educational and community-based efforts are creating glimmers of hope.

Writer and child protection advocate Chary Mercado, for instance, launched “Protektahan ang Kamusmusan,” a campaign using comics and animated videos to teach children and adults about abuse and how to report it.

Mercado also developed training guides for teachers and is in the process of implementing training programs for school teachers and administrators.

On June 12, a facility called “A Sanctuary for Healing and Transformation” was opened in Tabuk City by the Tabuk Refuge of Hope International, a Christian non-profit. The center provides recovery support for abused women and children in Kalinga and nearby provinces.

The DSWD in the region said it is also establishing a survivors’ support circle, where current and former Haven residents can connect through peer counseling and mentorship.

Claur and Ayasao stressed the enduring tradition of pumipisan (kinship care) as one of the most humane approaches. They said it allows children to find safe, nurturing homes within their extended families when the immediate family fails.

They said that while no intervention can undo the harm, early support, coordinated efforts, and a community willing to act can help survivors reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives. – Rappler.com

Statements were translated into English for brevity.