to provide a vehicle to aid in the filing of the criminal case, and to subsequently return for filing, as some of the offices were close or in lockdown. The case of Fabel Pineda is a somber reminder of the impact of breakdown of referral mechanisms and of failure of duty bearers to provide prompt and effective response in cases of GBV. While Fabel was able to file her case for sexual violence against the policemen, the manner by which the Police Station ignored and/or brushed aside her request for protection resulted in her untimely death. 83 While alleged perpetrators were already arrested and disciplinary actions initiated against officers who failed to respond, the Commission as Gender Ombud is also conducting its own independent investigation. This aims to identify gaps in the GBV response and to provide recommendations, especially that this case highlights the impact of GBV, the continuing challenges in accessing justice, and the brutal ways that women and girls are silenced in their attempt to access remedies. GBV in time of COVID During the pandemic, the Commission’s “E-Report mo sa Gender Ombud,” together with the “CHR’s ELawyering Program” and the “OFW reporting portal served as entry points of requests for legal assistance and investigation. These innovations allowed remote requests for assistance at a time when most government offices were closed and transportation and mobility were very much limited. Insights from the E-reporting Portal Data from the GBV Reporting Portal shows that from the time that the site went live in 27 April 2020 to 17 October 2020, the Commission already received 111 reports. Of these reports, 35 (33.33%) reports involved Violence Against Women and their Children (RA 9262), 24 (21.6%) reports pertained to threats or harassment, and 20 (18%) cases of rape. The reports were made by survivors, organizations or concerned individuals, and also CHR staff tasked to monitor cases of GBV. Of the 111 cases, 35 were provided legal assistance and counselling, 29 were requested for investigation by regional offices, 25 were documented, 6 were referred for shelter support and 5 cases are currently pending. As to the sectors that the survivors belong to, 21 (18.9%) were minors, 17(15.3%) were rural women, and 12 (10.8%) were members of the LGBQI+ community, reports from other sectors are also included. The summary also shows that of the 111 reports, 39 (35.1%) were committed by strangers, 30 (27%) by intimate partners, and 20 (18%) by other family members. While the perpetrators in most of the cases were private individuals, there were 18 (16.2%) cases allegedly committed by law enforcement officials, and 14 (12.6%) committed by government officials other than law enforcement. 83 Halili, Nadine. Everything you need to know about the Fabel Pineda case. Preen. 6 July 2020. https://preen.ph/113200/fabel-pineda-case 22