DEVIL AT HOME
Alarming rise in cases of incestious rape deplored
SENATOR Loren Legarda condemned the rape of minors as grave violation of human rights and stressed the need for better protection of children amid the reports of increasing incidence of sexual abuse right in the home of the young victims.
In a press conference, Legarda revealed that most of the victims , mostly minors, were victimized by members of their own families.
” Hindi biro ang ganitong mga pangyayari na ang inaasahan natin na siyang magbibigay proteksyon sa mga batang ito ang siyang gumagawa ng karumaldumal na pang aabuso sa mga kawawang biktima,” said Legarda as she filed Senate Resolution 1050, directing the Senate panels to conduct an inquiryinto the series of reported rape cases against children.
According to Legarda, the Commission on Human Rights released the series of cases which is considered a grave violation of human rights and stressing the need for effective protective measures for our children.
The CHR cited the following cases of rape which include: a 15-year old student who was raped by a motorcycle rider. The suspect allegedly gave her a free ride and took her to a restaurant before committing the heinous crime;
In Manila, a man arrested after allegedly raping his 14-year old daughter. The victim also reported that even before she was raped by her father, her uncle was the first to rape her.
In Calamba, Laguna, a man allegedly raped his niece when she was 10 years old until the age of 17. The suspect then escaped to Bicol, where he then allegedly raped his partner’s 3 minor daughters;
In Argao, Cebu, a man was arrested after allegedly raping his 14-yeard old daughter multiple times.
In Marikina, a 19-yeard old man was arrested after allegedly raping his 7-year old sister. The victim was also allegedly raped by her uncle and cousin.
In Quezon, a man was arrested for allegedly raping his minor step daughter since 2015. It was reported that the victim is pregnant and is expected to give birth in June. It was also revealed that the victim’s youngest sister was also raped by the suspect;
A tricycle driver was arrested after allegedly repeatedly raping his 12-yeard old god daughter;
In General Santos City, a young girl was allegedly abducted and was found shirtless and bloodied in a grassy area, showing signs of having been raped; and in Manukan del Norte, a decaying corpse of an 11-year-old girl was found. The suspect is a 20-year old man who is a relative of the victim.
Legarda said these incidents are increasing and it was a sad facts that portions of these cases involve perpetrators who are relatives of the victims, trusted individuals, which significantly intensifies the victims’ trauma, leading to long-term emotional and psychological damage that far surpasses the physical harm.
Legarda said the CHR revealed that the home, viewed as haven of love and safety, has tragically become the setting of these heinous crimes as she cited the data from the Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc. that from January 1 to May 26, 70.85% of the total 4,079 reported cases of violence against children are sexual abuse/assault, or 2,890 of the total 4,079 reported cases.
