Short answer. Yes. Section 25 makes violence against women and their children a public offence. It may be prosecuted on a complaint filed by any citizen who has personal knowledge of the circumstances of the crime — not only the woman herself. A relative, friend or witness with direct knowledge can start it.
What the law says
Violence against women and their children shall be considered a public offense which may be prosecuted upon the filing of a complaint by any citizen having personal knowledge of the circumstances involving the commission of the crime
RA 9262, Section 25 — Public Crime. Read the full provision →
VAWC is a public offence
Section 25 settles the point in a single sentence: violence against women and their children shall be considered a public offense which may be prosecuted upon the filing of a complaint by any citizen having personal knowledge of the circumstances involving the commission of the crime. Classifying it as a public offence is deliberate. It means the wrong is treated as an injury to the community, not merely a private grievance of the woman concerned, and that framing is what opens the door to a complainant other than the victim herself.
Who may bring the complaint
The section allows a complaint from any citizen having personal knowledge of the circumstances. That is broad. A parent, sibling, neighbour, friend or co-worker who directly witnessed or otherwise has personal knowledge of the abuse can file, without needing to be related to the victim or authorised by her. The law does not confine the power to initiate a case to the woman, which reflects a hard reality of abuse cases: the person best placed to know may not always be the one able or willing to come forward at that moment.
The 'personal knowledge' requirement
The breadth has a limit built into it. The complainant must have personal knowledge of the circumstances — not mere rumour or second-hand report. This keeps the door open to genuine witnesses and those with direct knowledge, while stopping the provision from becoming a licence for anyone at all to file on hearsay. In practice it means a complainant should be able to speak to what they actually saw or know first-hand, and that is worth bearing in mind when deciding who is best placed to bring the case forward.
Why this matters for a victim
For a woman who feels unable to file herself — out of fear, dependence, or control by the abuser — this provision means the case need not die for want of her signature on the complaint. Someone who knows what is happening can act. It also means intervention by others is contemplated and supported by the statute. Anyone considering filing on a victim's behalf, or a victim weighing her options, should take advice on how to proceed and on the protection measures available while a case is pursued.