Basilica Launches Protection Desk to Assist Abuse Survivors

SEEKING TO EXPAND ITS mission of compassion and care, the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica Minore and National Shrine launched the Basilica Protection Desk on July 11, 2025. The desk offers a safe, confidential space for individuals experiencing abuse, neglect, or violence.

Atty. Christianne Mary P. Villanueva and Mrs. Mercy L. Milla spearheaded the initiative under the guidance of Fr. Eugene Lubigan, marking a significant milestone in the Basilica’s social services efforts. The desk now serves as a sanctuary not only of faith but also of safety, particularly for the most vulnerable.

“This is more than just an office,” said Atty. Villanueva in an interview. “This is a living expression of the Church’s commitment to those who are hurting, afraid, or unheard. The Basilica is not just a place of prayer, but a place of protection.”

Recognizing the growing need for pastoral and practical responses to abuse and exploitation, the Protection Desk offers compassionate listening, basic assistance, and referral to appropriate agencies such as the CSWD, PNP, or legal aid groups. The initiative coordinates with the Caceres Office for Women and Children Protection (COWCP) to ensure proper alignment with diocesan protocols.

Although the desk is still in its early stages and with operational schedules and personnel systems being finalized, Atty. Villanueva assures that the desk is committed to creating a system rooted in empathy and integrity.

“Our goal is simple,” she added. “To be a space where no one is judged and no one is turned away.”

The Desk will also collaborate with partners such as CSWD-Naga, RTC Naga, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Division, and the UNC School of Law. Law students will assist through the upcoming Parish Legal Support Desk, while the cybercrime unit strengthens responses to online harassment and abuse, especially among youth. Awareness campaigns and partnerships with barangays and Church groups are also in motion to ensure the community knows where to turn in crisis.

At its core, the Basilica Protection Desk embodies the Church’s devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, offering not just services but a message of hope and presence. It stands as a quiet but powerful reminder that no one should feel alone, forgotten, or without support.