Lifting the Abused and Disparaged: Lived Experiences of Chief Investigators of the Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD)

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of Chief Investigators of Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD) in the Third (3rd) District of Bohol. Specifically, sought answers to the following questions: the experiences of the informants, strategies employed in addressing the problems encountered, and aspirations of the informants to improve the quality of service in handling cases of domestic violence?
Utilized was the phenomenological and qualitative approach in this study employing methods as interviews as key process in data gathering. They were ten selected chief investigators of WCPD section, four of them had been interviewed individually and the remaining six are the members of the Focused Group Discussion (FGD). It is a conceptual convenience sampling where they chosen from the municipal police station that have most populated municipality and more cases of domestic violence were reported. The study locale is in the 3rd Congressional District of Bohol and focused on the ident ified police station: Bilar, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Mabini, Alicia, Candijay, Carmen, Guindulman, Pilar, and Sierra Bullones. I used an Interview Guide aided with the voice recorder for the basis of transcribing the response of the informants. Utilized the colaizzi’s method a phenomenological analysis procedure in analyzing the responses of the informant during the conduct of interview.
For the experiences of the informants as Chief Investigators of Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD) themes formulated were positive experiences: Fulfillment in Restored Justice and Elation in Victims Gratitude. Negative experiences: Disillusionment in Abandoned Cases and Exasperation from Outsider Condemnation. For the strategies employed by the informants, formulated themes are: Illumination through Public Mobilization, Protective Altruism, Discretion in Sensitive Disclosure and Resilience Through Empowerment. For the aspirations of the informants, themes are: Procuring Resources for Advocacy, and Revitalizing Proficiency.
It is suggested that in order to avoid repetition of cases desistance and victimization, perpetrator must undergo several community service and series of lecture, enhance victim support program through budget allocation and establishment of facility and provide additional program like skills training and livelihood program to support nonearning victims of domestic violence in generating income.