1. ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004
Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon
Marie Arcie Anne M. Sercado
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………… 312
A. LAWS ON VAW BEFORE THE 1987 CONSTITUTION………. 313
1. IN CRIMINAL LAW………...……………………………. 313
2. IN CIVIL LAW…….................................................................. 313
B. LAWS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)…..………. 314
II. ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR
CHILDREN ACT OF 2004 (RA NO. 9262) OR THE
ANTI-VAWC ACT OF 2004………………..………………… 315
A. FEATURES OF THE ANTI-VAWC ACT…………………….. 317
1. EX PARTE PROTECTION ORDER………………………... 319
i. WHO MAY FILE FOR PROTECTION ORDERS…............. 319
ii. CONTENTS OF A PROTECTION ORDER……............... 320
iii. BARANGAY PROTECTION ORDER………………….. 320
2. ADDRESSES BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS… 321
3. PROVIDES FOR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS….……... 321
4. PROGRAMS FOR PERPETRATORS………………………… 321
5. TRAINING FOR POLICE AND JUDICIAL OFFICIALS……….. 322
6. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-VAWC ACT HAS OTHER
PROVISIONS………………………………......................... 322
III. THE RELIEF OF PROTECTION ORDER……………..... 324
A. PROTECTION ORDERS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS………... 327
1. PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND PREVENTION OF UNFAIR
DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2000 (SOUTH AFRICA)……....... 327
2. PROTECTION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT
(BULGARIA)…………………………………………….. 331
3. INTEGRATED PROTECTION AGAINST GENDER-BASED 332
310

2. 2008] THE ANTI-VAWC ACT OF 2004 311
VIOLENCE (SPAIN)....................................................................
4. LAW ON ACCESS OF WOMEN TO A LIFE FREE OF
VIOLENCE (MEXICO)…………………………………… 333
5. THE SUMMARY JURISDICTION (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE)
LAW (CAYMAN ISLANDS) ……………………………. 334
6. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT OF 1994 (MALAYSIA)…... 335
7. PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 1997
(MAURITIUS)……………………………………………. 337
8. Domestic Violence Act of 1991 (Trinidad and Tobago).... 338
9. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT OF 1995 (NEW ZEALAND)…... 339
10. LAW ON DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF WOMEN
(LAO PDR)……………………………………………... 341
11. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CRIME AND VICTIMS ACT
(UNITED KINGDOM)……………………………………. 341
IV. CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES…………………....... 342
A. RA NO. 9262 HAS IN ITS FAVOR THE PRESUMPTION OF
CONSTITUTIONALITY………………........................................... 343
B. R.A. NO. 9262 DOES NOT VIOLATE THE EQUAL
PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION………………. 344
1. APPROACHES TO EQUALITY………..................................... 346
2. R.A NO. 9262 WAS LEGISLATED USING THE
SUBSTANTIVE EQUALITY FRAMEWORK………………… 348
3. RA NO. 9262 DOES NOT VIOLATE THE DUE PROCESS
CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION…………........................... 353
4. RA NO. 9262 DOES NOT VIOLATE STATE POLICY ON
STRENGTHENING OF THE FAMILY………………………. 356
5. RA NO. 9262 IS NOT AN UNDUE DELEGATION OF
JUDICIAL POWER TO BARANGAY OFFICIALS…………….. 359
V. PROBLEMS IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF R.A. NO.
9262 ………………………………………………………… 364
VI. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON LEGISLATING
VAW…….............................................................................. 373
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EXPERTS…...……….. 374
A. FAMILY LAW PROVISIONS………………………………. 376
B. SPECIALIZED COURTS………………………………........ 377
C. PUBLIC AWARENESS…………………………………….. 378
D. SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE……………...………………. 379
VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS………… 381