If there's something strange, in your neighborhood. Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! Kidding aside, you cannot turn a blind eye on neighbors crying for help especially if their life is at stake.
An blunt example would be an abusive husband beating his hapless spouse. The lights were already out and you could hear nothing but crickets serenading in deathly still night. Your eyelids were already heavy and about to fall into the oblivion of sleep. You were about to be caught by paralysis called sleep, when you heard a shout match. It was too disturbing to ignore. Satisfying your curious nature, you got up and checked where the noise came from.
It was from your neighbor. The couples were engaging in a bad-tempered argument. The wife was silenced as the husband started to throw a series of punches. You could see a glimpse of their squabble from a far. The wife was crying helplessly in dire need of immediate help. As a concerned neighbor, you immediately went to the 'barangay' officials in your village to ask for assistance only to be turned down. Your request fell on deaf ears because the officials told you that they were not in the position to intervene because the matter should be between the married couple only. However, it is the duty of 'barangay' officials to heed your request under Section 30 of Republic Act 9262.
SECTION 30. Duties of Barangay Officials and Law Enforcers. – Barangay officials and law enforcers shall have the following duties:
(a) respond immediately to a call for help or request for assistance or protection of the victim by entering the necessary whether or not a protection order has been issued and ensure the safety of the victim/s;
(b) confiscate any deadly weapon in the possession of the perpetrator or within plain view;
(c) transport or escort the victim/s to a safe place of their choice or to a clinic or hospital;
(d) assist the victim in removing personal belongs from the house;
(e) assist the barangay officials and other government officers and employees who respond to a call for help;
(f) ensure the enforcement of the Protection Orders issued by the Punong Barangay or the courts;
(g) arrest the suspected perpetrator wiithout a warrant when any of the acts of violence defined by this Act is occurring, or when he/she has personal knowledge that any act of abuse has just been committed, and there is imminent danger to the life or limb of the victim as defined in this Act; and
(h) immediately report the call for assessment or assistance of the DSWD, social Welfare Department of LGUs or accredited non-government organizations (NGOs).
Any barangay official or law enforcer who fails to report the incident shall be liable for a fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or whenever applicable criminal, civil or administrative liability.