Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has proposed to create a central database for all Temporary and Permanent Protection Orders by courts to better protect women and children.
He filed a bill that seeks to strengthen the enforcement of TPOs and PPOs issued pursuant to Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
“It is clear that our government is responsible under RA 9262 to protect all women and the youth against all abuses and intimidation,” he stressed.
With this measure, Lapid said victims will not be burdened with the task of always providing certified copies of TPOs and PPOs whenever they ask for police assistance.
“A victim will no longer fear for her/his safety. We can be assured that the response of our police on the call for protection will be fast,” Lapid said of the central database.
To make sure that the database will always be up to date, TPOs and PPOs shall be immediately registered to the central repository by the courts issuing the same.
A protection order is issued to prevent further acts of violence against a woman or her child and granting other necessary relief. The relief granted under a protection order serves to safeguard the victim from further harm, the lawmaker said.
TPOs and PPOs also seek to minimize any disruption in the victim’s daily life by facilitating the opportunity and ability of the individual to independently regain control over her life, Lapid said.
Senate Bill 2143 pushes to strengthen the enforcement of such TPOs and PPOs by ensuring that all police officers and other law enforcement authorities who may need to implement these shall have easy access to such information, the senator noted.
Under the bill, the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall maintain a central database for all valid and subsisting TPOs and PPOs, which shall be accessible to all police officers and law enforcement authorities, Lapid said.
