Increase in rape cases due to improved reporting, PNP says

The Philippine National Police has attributed a 35-percent increase in rape cases in the first nine months of the year to an improved reporting system.

 

In a press statement issued on Monday, the PNP said there were 7,306 rape cases committed against women and children recorded from January to October of this year, 35 percent higher than the 4,737 rape cases recorded in the same period in 2013.

 

Based on the record of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), minors made up 76.9 percent of rape victims this year while 23.1 percent of the victims were adult women.

 

Chief Superintendent Juanita Nebran, director of PNP-WCPC said children are usually more vulnerable to abuse.

 

“Sila yung walang kakayahang lumaban at takot sila,” Nebran said.

 

Nebran, however, clarified that the increase in the number of recorded rape cases does not necessarily mean that there has been an actual surge in rapes.

 

“Improved crime reporting system and effective public awareness campaign resulted in significantly higher crime statistics of rape cases,” the PNP said in a statement.

 

Nebran said part of the latest initiatives of the PNP leadership is to get the “true crime picture” by gathering reports not just from barangay blotters and police stations but also from other law enforcement units.

 

The WCPC is a specialized unit of the PNP that handles cases involving violence against women and children.

 

Nebran said Women and Children’s Desks have already been set up in all police stations nationwide to handle rape and other kinds of abuse committed against women and children.

 

She said the PNP has also intensified its training and specialized courses for police personnel in order to improve their capability in dealing with women and children who are victims of abuse.

 

Nebran said this specialized training complements the PNP WCPC information awareness campaign to encourage more victims to come forward.

 

“Authorities can only do so much. Ultimately, police intervention and successful prosecution depends on the rape victim’s willingness to come forward. Hindi namin sila matutulungan kung tatahimik lang sila,” Nebran said. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News