On top of the threat of COVID-19, many women especially in Mindanao, continues to face challenges of displacement. In August, it was noted that most of the displaced persons in South Cotabato were women, children, and elderly.71 Women and LGBTQI Human Rights Defenders In view of the passage of the Anti-Terror Bill, and the numerous petitions questioning its constitutionality before the supreme court, human rights defenders are among those who are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. The imposition of containment measures has also limited the movement and the right of persons to peaceably assemble and has resulted in the arrests of individuals conducting humanitarian services and those expressing dissent through rallies. Reports have also been reported in the Commission’s regional offices of red tagging of activists, including those from indigenous cultural communities. 72 To cite some specific example, a group of volunteers in Marikina who were then conducting feeding program were arrested for quarantine violations. This included teacher Lita, a volunteer teacher in Batibot School. 73 The arrest of Pride 20 during the Pride March is another example. Members of the LGBQI+ community were arrested during the exercise of freedom of expression.74 Alarming decrease in the reporting of GBV and documented accounts of breakdown of referral mechanisms; In times of crisis, incidence of GBV are expected to rise. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the height of the ECQ/MECQ period, the Commission observed an alarming decrease in the reporting of cases. It also documented cases of and received reports of gaps/breakdown in the referral mechanism. The alarming drop of reported GBV cases is reflected in several data sources. GBV data from March to April of PNP and data from Women and Children Protection Units of DOH reveal an alarming drop from the month prior to the ECQ. Reports and requests for assistance with the Commission’s 16 regional offices were also noticeably lower. Comparing data from 14 February to 14 March 2020, with the data from 14 March to 14 April 2020, there is a marked decrease in the number of reports before the PNP. For rape cases recorded by the PNP CIRRAS during this period, there is a 56.25% decrease of reports for women, and a 59.84% decrease of reports for rape of children75, for violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children, there is a 39.92% decrease.76 This is further confirmed in the records of the Women and Children Protection Units (WCPU) of the Department of Health. Across its 23 hospitals, a comparison of reported GBV cases 71 CHR Report on the COVID-19 Emergency Situation in IDP Areas in Mindanao Regions 27 June 2020 to July 31, 2020. 72 CHR IV, Human Rights Situationer report; See also ‘Cultural Survival. Amid COVID-19 Crisis, Duterte Regime Seeks to Discredit Indigenous Humanitarian Organizers in the Philippines’ 19 May 2020. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/amid-covid-19-crisis-duterte-regime-seeks-discredit-indigenoushumanitarian-organizers 73 Talabong, R.10 Feeding Program Volunteers Arrested in Marikina. Rappler. 1 May 2020. https://www.rappler.com/nation/feeding-program-volunteers-arrested-marikina-may-2020 74 Rappler. At least 20 arrested at Pride march in Manila. 26 June 2020. https://www.rappler.com/nation/copsarrest-individuals-pride-month-protest-manila-june-2020 75 From 144 cases to 63 for women; From 386 to 155 reports of rape of children. 76 PNP Cirras Report as shared through PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) 18