Bulacan slay victim's mom asks Marcos to use 'iron fist' to address violence against women

The mother of a 15-year-old girl found dead in Bulacan after missing for days on Friday urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to use “iron fist” in addressing the recent incidents of violence against women.

Interviewed on a television program of the Philippine National Police (PNP), “Perlita,” mother of victim Princess Marie Dumantay, thanked authorities for the arrest of the suspect behind her daughter’s slay.

“Parang-awa ninyo na mahal na Pangulong Marcos, pakinggan ninyo ang mga biktima, ang mga kadalagahan na nawawala dito sa ating bansa. Pakiusap po gumamit po kayo ng kamay na bakal. Kawawa naman po kaming mga kababaihan, ang aming mga anak na siyang pasibol pa lang pero anong nangyayari? Nasaan ang ating batas?” she said.

(I am appealing to President Marcos, I hope he will listen to the family of those who are missing. We urge them to use an iron fist. Us, women, and our children are being victimized. What is happening? Where is our law?)

“Pangulo, parang awa ninyo na hindi lang po ang aking anak ang nabibiktima dito. Marami pa pong nauna. Paano pa po kung hindi ‘yan masusupil ng ating mga kapulisan? Paano na po ang iba pang mabibiktima. ‘Wag naman po sana maulit pa ang ganito. Pakiusap ko po sa inyo mga mambabatas, kapulisan, lahat ng gobyerno, pakiusap, i-ano natin ang batas na bakal sa mga demonyo at walang-awang suspek na ito,” she added.

(President, I am asking because it is not only my child who was victimized. There are many others before her. What if the police will not be able to stop it? How about those who will fell victim to these? We hope this will not happen again. So I am calling for our lawmakers, policemen, and those in the government to use iron fisted measures against these demons and suspects.)

GMA News Online sought Malacañang's comment on the appeal of the victim's mother but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

According to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), suspect Gaspar Maneja Jr. was arrested in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.

Maneja, who also uses the name Jose Francisco Santos, was nabbed based on an arrest warrant for rape and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law.

Dumantay's body was found on a grassy roadside in Bustos, Bulacan, on August 12, days after she was reported missing.

Asked on her statement for the suspect, Perlita said “Alam mo makonsensya ka. Batas na ang bahala sa'yo at ang Diyos na nakapapanood sa ginawa mo. May kasabihan tayo, buhay ang inutang mo, buhay ang kapalit (You should feel guilty. The law and God will judge you).”—AOL, GMA News