MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government is again alarmed by the spike in the number of cases of rape and violence against women and children (VAWC) in the city this year.
According to a report presented by Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) chief Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, VAWC cases in the city increased by 66.67 percent, while rape cases increased by 21.54 percent for the first eight months this year compared to the same period last year.
The QCPD recorded last year 87 VAWC cases from January to August 2020, including physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of abuse.
This year, the QCPD said 145 VAWC cases had been reported for the same period.
From January to August 2020, the QCPD had recorded 130 rape cases, but the figure rose to 158 this year.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the uptick was troubling and urged victims or their relatives and friends to report any form of abuse to the Quezon City Protection Center through Hotline 122 or village officials.