PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Palawan’s provincial police has reported a drop in the number of rape cases in the province from 2015 to 2017.
Palawan Police director, Senior Supt. Gabriel Lopez, said Friday night that from 95 cases recorded in 2015, rape cases in the province declined to 89 in 2016, and further to 80 in 2017.
“It has been decreasing since 2015, along with the decrease in other index crimes in the province. Based on our assessment, this is because of the anti-illegal drugs campaign by our government. Dahil may mga sumuko sa ‘Oplan Tokhang’ kaya feeling namin yon ang dahilan ng pagbaba (Some have surrendered due to Oplan Tokhang. We believe that is why the cases went down),” he said.
Index crimes include homicide, murder, rape, physical injury, robbery and theft.
Of the number of rape cases, Lopez said sexual abuse within the family, or incest rape, had always been recorded, particularly in the remote barangays of the province.
“Ang suspek ay ang mismong asawa ng nanay nila, o di kaya uncle, o di kaya tatay. Kapag umaalis ang nanay, o wala ang nanay, doon nangyayari ang pang-ra-rape (The suspects are, sometimes, the stepfather, or the uncle, or the father. When the mother leaves, that is when the sexual abuse happens)” he said.
In 2017, 14 attempted rape cases were also logged by the PPO, as well as 11 cases involving statutory rape.
“Kadalasan ito ay nangyayari sa mga malalayong barangay, o sa bukid na walang masyadong maraming tao na lugar, kaya pinag-iingat natin lalo na ang mga nanay na may mga anak na babae (Most of the incest rape cases happen in the house in distant farms, or where there are only a small number of residents. This is why we always tell parents to take care of their children, especially the female children),” he said.
Lopez said though it is hard to predict when a rape would happen in the family, there are signs to watch out for.
“Is the relative using drugs? Is the closeness with the relative too good for comfort? They have to be watchful about how their children act if there is fear of relative, or unusual emotions manifesting, the parents should be vigilant enough to know the signs, and talk immediately to their children. Assure them that they can be helped,” he added. (PNA)
