PCW seeks swift referral pathway to curb violence vs women in politics

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Tuesday called for the formation of a rapid referral pathway in the government to immediately address concerns of violence against women in politics (VAWP).

PCW Senior Gender and Development Specialist Caryl Joyce Gutapia made this recommendation during the hearing of the House committee on women and gender equality on House Bills Nos. 8353 and 9254, which both seek to define and penalize VAWP. 

READ: Zamora tells bashers behind sexist remarks: Get a life

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Gutapia said that the PCW supports both measures amid the proliferation of threats against women in politics. Gutapia said that women in politics must be afforded protection against any violence and threats for them to fully perform their duties for their communities and the country. 

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“Hanggang ngayon patuloy na may diskriminasyon, panggigipit at karahasan ng mga kasama nating kababaihan sa pagtahak nila sa larangan ng politika. Kung hindi natin sosolusyonan at haharapin, patuloy na hindi magiging ligtas at buo ang pakikilahok ng mga kababaihan sa politika at demokrasya,” Gutapia said. 

(Until now, there is still discrimination and harassment against women in politics. If we do not solve and address this, the participation of women in politics and democracy will not be fully safe.)

With this, she laid out the agency’s recommendations, including establishing a rapid referral pathway to be handled by the Commission on Elections and the Department of Justice, for example. 

She said that this should be done “so digital evidence, physical security, threats and election offenses are routed simultaneously to DICT [Department of Information and Communications Technology], PNP [Philippine National Police], or NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], and election contest bodies without delaying emergency protective measures.”

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She added that the VAWP desk should be harmonized with existing violence against women desks during the election period. She also said that the women in politics experiencing threats must also have access to psychosocial services, particularly for trauma informed care and other forms of assistance. 

READ: Beyond the ‘Conyo’ Accent: Class, Language, and the Sexualization of Public Speech

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Meanwhile, Trent Joshua Asuncion of the non-government organization The Asia Foundation said women in politics should be protected throughout their political participation. 

Asuncion said that while the proposed VAWP desk and election period response mechanisms are equally important, he noted that “violence does not necessarily begin only when somebody files her candidacy nor does it end on election day.” He emphasized that women may begin facing pressure even before becoming election candidates, and threats and pressure may continue once they assume office. 

“The question for us is a practical one: where does she go? She should be able to approach the designated reporting channel and get help without first having to work out with the agency that has jurisdiction of her case,” he added. 

The House panel approved the motion to consolidate the two measures into a consolidated bill and consider the recommendations made during the hearing. 

This hearing was conducted just days after San Juan City Lone District Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora received sexist and misogynistic attacks online after conducting the direct examination of P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang, head of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office during the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte. 

As many netizens branded her approach as “flirtatious,” Zamora clapped back and told the bashers behind the remarks to “get a life.” 

“You know it’s so unfortunate that a lot of Filipinos still think that way, they still make misogynistic remarks, especially directed towards women, girls, who apparently are smart and can speak well, and can be a lawyer in an impeachment court,” Zamora said during a previous press briefing. 

Zamora, who studied political science and law from the University of the Philippines, was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009. She handled civil and family law, corporate law, and criminal law at the Zamora Poblador Law Office before she began her political career in 2022. 

During the House panel hearing, panel chairperson Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag reaffirmed her support for Zamora, who is also the panel’s vice chairperson. 

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“As our statement of support and manifestation of how we appreciate the kind of representative just like Attorney Bel Zamora. She is very articulate, decent,” she said. /mr