Short answer. You can file it yourself. The law lets a petition for protection order be filed by the offended party first of all, so you do not need a relative, official, or lawyer to start it for you. Others may also file, but the choice to apply is yours.
What the law says
A petition for protection order may be filed by any of the following: (a) the offended party
RA 9262, Section 9 — Who May File. Read the full provision →
You are first on the list
The law spells out who may seek a protection order, and it opens with the person the order is meant to protect: A petition for protection order may be filed by any of the following: (a) the offended party. That places the right squarely in your own hands. You are not required to find a parent, a barangay official, or a social worker to file for you, and you do not need anyone's permission to begin. If you are the woman or child suffering the violence, you can walk in and apply on your own behalf. The right to ask the court for protection starts with you.
Others may file, but only to widen the door
The rest of the list exists to make sure a victim who cannot act alone is not left without help. Parents and guardians, close relatives within a defined degree, social workers of the Department or the local government, police officers, the Punong Barangay or a Barangay Kagawad, and even the victim's lawyer, counselor, therapist or healthcare provider may all file. So can at least two concerned responsible citizens with personal knowledge of the offense. These options add petitioners; they do not replace you. Their presence on the list means the law would rather many people be able to act than risk a victim going unprotected — not that you are barred from filing yourself.
What filing yourself involves
Applying on your own does not mean you must do it perfectly or alone. A protection order application is made in writing and signed under oath, and the law directs barangay officials, court personnel and law enforcement to help applicants prepare it. You can describe the abuse in your own words and ask the court for the specific reliefs you need — being kept away from, staying in the home, support, custody arrangements and more. If you fear disclosing where you live, the law lets that concern be raised in the application itself. The system is built so that a victim standing alone can still be heard.
When help makes sense anyway
Even though you can file yourself, there are good reasons to bring others in. A social worker, a women and children's desk officer, or a lawyer can steady the process, especially if the abuser is likely to fight the application or if children are involved. If you lack the means to hire counsel, you may ask the court for a lawyer to be provided. Filing yourself and getting assistance are not opposites — you keep control of the decision while leaning on the support the law puts around you. The important point is that nothing stops you from starting the moment you are ready.