Short answer. Yes, and the Act says how. Where disclosing the victim's address would pose a danger to her life, that must be stated in the application; in its place the applicant attests that she resides within the court's territorial jurisdiction and supplies a mailing address for service.
What the law says
When disclosure of the address of the victim will pose danger to her life, it shall be so stated in the application. In such a case, the applicant shall attest that the victim is residing in the municipality or city over which court has territorial jurisdiction, and shall provide a mailing address for purpose of service processing.
RA 9262, Section 11 — How To Apply. Read the full provision →
It has to be claimed, not simply left blank
The wording is it shall be so stated in the application. The protection is not automatic and it is not achieved by omitting the line; it is a positive statement that disclosure would pose a danger to your life, made in the application itself. That matters practically, because a form arriving with an address field left empty invites a clerk to send it back for completion. Raise it with whoever is helping you draft, before the form is filled in, and make sure the statement is on the face of the application.
What replaces the address
Two things, and they do different jobs. The attestation that you reside in the city or municipality over which the court has territorial jurisdiction preserves venue, since venue for a temporary or permanent order is fixed by the petitioner's place of residence — the court still needs to know that you are within its area, just not the street. The mailing address then carries service. Between them the case can proceed without your address being written into a document the respondent will receive a copy of.
Choose the mailing address for reliability
This is the decision people make too quickly. Service drives the timetable: a temporary order is served personally on the respondent by the sheriff, and it carries notice of the hearing date on the permanent order. Anything sent to you goes to the address you nominated. So it needs to be somewhere you will actually and promptly receive things — a relative's house, a workplace, a counsel's office — and somewhere you can keep using, since changing it mid-case means telling the court. It does not have to be where you sleep.
The wider confidentiality rule
The address provision sits inside a broader one. All records of cases of violence against women and their children, including those held at the barangay, are confidential, and public officers and employees and public or private clinics and hospitals are required to respect the victim's right to privacy. Publishing a victim's name, address, telephone number, school, business address, employer or other identifying information without her consent carries a penalty and exposes the publisher to the court's contempt power. Ask that these be observed if you see them slipping.
Related provisions
- RA 9262, Section 10 — Where To Apply
- RA 9262, Section 15 — Temporary Protection Orders
- RA 9262, Section 44 — Confidentiality