Maramag Focus Group Discussio on Gender Based Violence Referral Mechanism October 3, 2019 Maramag, Bukidnon The Municipal Health Officer shared that she is proud of one case where she did not fold in to pressure from the military to change the findings of the physical examination of rape victim-survivor. CASE MANAGEMENT The facilitators asked about the entry point of a GBV case: The MSWDO said that they follow national case flow protocols depending on the case. The Provincial Prosecutor answered that for their office, GBV complaints are either filed by the victims or the police. One challenge faced by fiscals is the delay in the release of necessary documentary evidence from government offices such as medical certificates. The Municipal Health Officer on her part said that in their office, the case is made known to them either by relatives of victims or by barangay officials. The MHO will advise them to get a medical exam or medico legal request from the police. The Maramag MHO follows the “service delivery network protocol” of government health offices. At this point CHR-X Investigator Cajes asked about the importance of the use of medical examination in a court case; the difference in medical examination conducted by private clinics as against government health offices; and whether stating the healing period is important in court. CHR-X Attorney Gaudiel also asked whether it is true what they heard that a rape case will be dismissed if there is no psychological evaluation report on the rape victim. The MHO answered that private physicians will mostly decline if the request is for a medico legal exam because of the hassle of the necessity of appearing in court. The “healing period” is necessary to be included in the report or certification. The Provincial Prosecutor replied that the healing period matters as to what case will be filed in court. He said the medical certificate is very important but he will use it depending whether it is favorable to his case or not. As to the psychological evaluation, the fiscal reiterated that it is the testimony of the victim that the judgment of the rape case should hinge on. Moving on, the group was then asked who in their office determines the appropriate remedies needed in a GBV case: The PNP WCPD Office said that after their documentation, they refer the case to either the MSWDO, the MHO or the Provincial Prosecutor for case prosecution. The MSWDO answered that whatever case they receive, it is their SOP to provide psychosocial service, then they will evaluate further remedies needed. Most cases require counseling and financial assistance for transportation and meals in attending case trials specially those in Malaybalay City. DOCUMENTATION The facilitators asked the group when does the documentation of a GBV case start: The PNP said depending on the gravity of the case they usually make a blotter, an incident report or straight to inquest. GBV case information is also stored in electronic form which they can only access, it is kept confidential and not published. The WCPD keeps the document as a permanent record. GBV statistics will be forwarded to the province but not the case folder. The MSWDO said that they use an intake form. They store GBV case documents separated in individual case folders that is kept in a steel cabinet that only their staff has access to. GBV case stats will be forwarded to the province and region, but individual case folders need to be requested for information to be forwarded. They are still in the process of digitizing their records so that they can Page 9 of 13