ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 5, 2013) – Police authorities arrested a cop who is accused of domestic violence in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
Officials said the policeman has been detained after his 37-year old wife complained that she was hit several times by her husband during a heated argument.
“A police operation was conducted which resulted to the arrest of the policeman. He is presently detained at the Zamboanga City Police Office while a case is being prepared against him in court,” said Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman.
He said the accused is assigned in Basilan province, but the couple lives in the seaside village of Baliwasan Grande. The policeman is facing charges of violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and could lose his job and jailed if proven guilty.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, the rreported cases under RA 9262 continue to increase from 218 in 2004 to 11,531 cases in 2012. Since 2004, wife battering cases have been categorized under ‘Violation of RA 9262’ that is, if the victim files a case under such law, otherwise the reported cases will fall under physical injuries category.
It said physical injury is now the second most prevalent case across the nine-year period, accounting for 21.1% of all reported cases of violence against women nationwide. (Mindanao Examiner)
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