BAGUIO CITY – A total of 461 cases of abuse against women were recorded here last year, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported. Topping the list of abuses against women is physical abuse with 310 cases, followed by sexual abuse with 68 cases, psychological and emotional abuse seven cases each, and economic abuse two cases. The most number of victims of these forms of abuse are those belonging to the age group 21-30 years old with 154 cases, followed by those in the 31-40 age bracket with 126 cases. Eighty-seven cases were recorded in the age group 41-50 years old, 61 cases in 20 years old and below, 26 cases in the 51-60 years old bracket, and seven cases in 61 years old and above. Myrna Valencerina of CSWDO Gender and Development (GAD) said that of this number of women in especially difficult circumstances, 379 cases have not been filed and in various stages of counselling, while 82 cases have already been filed against the perpetrators. Valencerina claimed that most of the victims of these abuses were provided with the necessary counselling, particularly the psychological and marital crisis counselling, as part of the interventions provided by the city government to allow the abused victims to recover from their difficult experiences from their abusers. She said the city government is also extending medical, financial and educational assistance not only to the victims but also the members of their families depending on the results of the evaluation and assessment conducted by the assigned social welfare and development officers on the needs of the abused victims and their families.