ILOILO — Rape and other violations of women’s rights continue to dominate human rights complaints in Western Visayas, even as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 6 grapples with limited investigators, lawyers, and funding to respond to the growing demand for justice.
As of December 10, CHR-6 has recorded 98 human rights cases, many involving sexual violence, sexual harassment, and red-tagging, with women, children, and marginalized sectors bearing the brunt of the abuses.
Regional Director Jonnie Dabuco said the figures include cases from Negros Occidental filed between January and June 2025, before jurisdiction formally shifted to the Negros Island Region (NIR) in July.
“For 2025, as of December 10, we have 98 cases, pero including NIR pa ‘ni. Pinakadamo namon nga cases subong is rape or violation sa rights of women. They also have complaints related particularly sa red-tagging,” Dabuco said.
While the number of complaints is lower than in previous years — particularly 2021 and 2022 — Dabuco stressed that the severity of cases has not diminished, especially those involving women and minors.
“Compared sa mga previous years, manubo subong this year… pero mas nagnubo subong ang cases and complaints like extrajudicial killings,” he added.
Although CHR-6 has yet to release a province-by-province breakdown, Dabuco said Iloilo City and Iloilo province account for a significant portion of the reported complaints.
“Sa subong, women rights. Pila na ka tuig women’s rights violations gid ang dagko nga cases,” he said.
Dabuco also identified the urban poor and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as among the most vulnerable sectors, citing cases from Boracay Island in Aklan and in Antique.
Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), particularly sexual abuse involving minors, remains a major concern, with many cases referred to CHR-6 through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“These cases are deeply rooted in societal norms and the lack of access to education about rights and protections,” Dabuco said.
Manpower stretched thin
Even as cases persist, Dabuco acknowledged that CHR-6 lacks sufficient personnel to investigate and resolve complaints swiftly.
“Currently, we have only a handful of investigators… We need more legal experts and resources to effectively address the situation,” he said.
“Manpower isa sa mga challenges sang Commission… may duha kami ka investigators, one lawyer nga manugdugang, but still… kulang pa gid ang amon personnel,” he added.
Budget constraints continue to hamper operations, with only marginal increases granted compared with last year.
“For this year, puru-pareho man sang 2024. May nagdugang lang nga gamay, pero malayo gihapon sa amon nga gin-propose nga budget,” Dabuco said.
Red-tagging, online abuse add pressure
Dabuco further reiterated that red-tagging is a human rights violation.
“The Supreme Court has affirmed that it poses serious threats to individuals’ safety and can irreparably damage their reputations. It is essential for duty bearers to recognize this and act accordingly to protect lives,” he said.
He also flagged the rise in online sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, stressing the need for wider public education and parental vigilance.
“The trend indicates an uptick in online exploitation, especially among young people. It is critical we educate not only the youths but also their parents and guardians,” he said.
Call for support, awareness
As part of Human Rights Week activities starting December 4, CHR-6 held forums with students, media, persons with disabilities, security forces, and persons deprived of liberty to promote rights awareness.
“Our theme… ‘Our Everyday Essentials’… human rights is not just a legal concept, it is fundamental sa aton nga pangabuhi… education is important because it is necessary and result to empowerment and for accountability,” Dabuco said.
Despite the mounting caseload and limited resources, CHR-6 said it remains committed to pursuing accountability and strengthening advocacy to ensure that human rights in Western Visayas are protected, respected, and upheld./PN
