On Duration, as to the regular or normal period of duration for resolution
(if at all) on VAW cases or incidents:
All state offices said, “It depends,” indicating uncertainty on duration as
every case depends on circumstances.
Approximately, the reporting, investigation up to prosecutor’s office could
be a week or 5 business working days, for as long as the victim is
cooperative and decided. The duration from the Prosecutor’s Office is
beyond the ZCPO.
Approximately, the dialogues at the ZCSWD up to the referral to the
barangays, the monitoring and the investigation at the BLGU-VAW
Corners/Sections may reach from one to three (3) weeks, dependen ton the
determination of the victim, the willingenss of victims and witnesses to
testify, and the depth and intensity of the violence.
Approximately, at the CHR, this could go for weeks, to months, even a
year, depending on the judges, availability of witnesses to provide
testimonies, and the reléase of psychological test clearance.
Two steps during legal proceedings have been identified as crucial:
(1) Requirement of psychological test clearance
(2) Delay in family court
A separate set of respondents were asked on these issues.
A psychoneurologist was sent communication, inviting him to be a
participant to the study and following his willful consent, he was
interviewed. The succeeding information manifest his opinión on the
duration of the reléase of the required psychological clearance, and his
related responses.
The usual cases on psychological abuse that he has observed or attended to
in Zamboanga City so far was “when you scold a woman or shouts at her,
it’s already psychological abuse” (Doctor-Respondent, Personal
Communication, September 14, 2020).
The courts require a psychological evaluation of women-survivors or
victims when the matter reaches the halls of justice. This Psychology
Report or PAR is a document signed by a government licensed psychiatrist
or a psychoneurologist that attests to the woman’s being of sound mind.
18
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