LET US HAVE MORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION DESKS

LET US HAVE MORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION DESKS

One of the more heartening developments in the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the years has been the establishment of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD). As its name suggests, this specialized unit is tasked with handling cases of violence, exploitation, and abuse committed against women and children. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. However, while the intention is commendable, we need to confront an uncomfortable truth: there are not enough WCPDs, and in some cases, there is a desk — but no officer to man it.

Based on my own experience working in government, I’ve seen how a “desk” can sometimes be just that — a literal piece of furniture with no one sitting behind it. This could be due to personnel shortages in the PNP, which may leave no officers available to man the desk full-time. But the law is the law, and it explicitly requires that every police station should have a designated officer — a policeman or policewoman — to oversee the WCPD. Assigning personnel is not optional; it’s a legal mandate.

The work of a WCP desk officer goes far beyond receiving complaints. It’s a coordinative role, one that requires close collaboration with the local government unit (LGU), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and even non-government organizations (NGOs) and church-based groups. In particularly sensitive or complex cases, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) — including the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) — may also be called upon for support.

The protection of children often requires an even broader network of services. In cases of severe neglect or abuse, some children need to be placed into foster care or sheltered in an orphanage. This means the WCPD’s coordination role extends well beyond law enforcement — it requires navigating an entire social welfare ecosystem.

While any officer can technically be assigned to the WCPD, it would be ideal to assign those with backgrounds in social work, psychology, or counseling. A good investigator can solve a case, but a trained counselor or social worker can understand the trauma, the fear, and the hesitancy that many victims carry — making it far more likely that cases will move forward, and victims will receive the support they need.

At the provincial level, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) should also play a more active role. Ideally, the CWC should station their own personnel at provincial police headquarters, ensuring that expertise in child welfare and protection is embedded at the command level, if they cannot assign personnel to every local station.

Furthermore, the Department of Education (DepEd) must also be part of the equation. Many children who find themselves in police stations are out of school, and reintegration into the education system — with the right support services — could be the key to their long-term well-being.

When we step back and look at the bigger picture, it becomes clear that the protection of women and children cannot be the responsibility of just one agency. This is a multifaceted effort that demands the active involvement of local chief executives — particularly mayors. Given their authority over the local police, social welfare offices, health centers, and community programs, mayors are in the best position to provide leadership and direction for a truly coordinated response.

The WCPD is already collaborating with several agencies and organizations, including the DSWD, DOH, DOJ, and NGOs, to provide medical, legal, and psychological support to victims. They also participate in training programs, conduct public awareness campaigns, and work on policy advocacy to improve the system.

Still, all these efforts — valuable as they are — cannot substitute for the basic requirement: a properly staffed, well-trained, and fully operational WCP Desk in every police station. It’s time to go beyond good intentions and ensure that women and children, wherever they are in the country, have immediate and reliable access to protection and support.

Let us have more Women and Children Protection Desks and let us make sure that these desks are not empty — but manned by trained, compassionate, and capable officers who understand that the safety and future of women and children depend on their work.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

04-06-2025

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