PHYSICAL abuse remains the top crime committed against women, while acts of lasciviousness are the leading crime against children in the Cordillera region.
In the weekly Police Mo, Kaibigan Mo radio forum of DzEQ Radyo Pilipinas Baguio, Police Major Michele Bagayao of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) said most of these crimes were committed in Baguio City, Benguet and Ifugao.
“From January to June this year, the leading crime committed against women in our region is physical injuries with a total of 158 having a total number of cases filed at 73, this was followed by psychological abuse with 54 having a total number of cases filed at 28, acts of lasciviousness was third with 25 with a total number of cases filed at 18,” Bagayao said.
Rape is fourth in terms of crime against women with 23, with 22 cases already filed, followed by economic abuse with 10 and eight cases filed, while attempted rape had one but with two cases filed.
For crimes committed against children, rape recorded the highest with 65, 59 of which were already filed, followed by physical injuries at 59 with 39 cases filed, and acts of lasciviousness at third having 39 cases and 28 already filed.
“The fourth crime committed against children in the region are other kinds of abuse at 33 with 28 cases filed, statutory rape with all 27 cases filed, incestuous rape at sixth with all 18 cases filed followed by sexual abuse having 13 with seven cases filed, and attempted rape at 4 with eight cases filed,” the WCPD Chief stated.
Bagayao said WCPD also undertakes surveillance and monitoring of suspected traffickers as well as their operations and execute necessary proactive campaigns to deter the commission of such crimes, aside from handling cases of battered women and children, the conduct of computer-based investigations, in coordination with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and other law enforcement agencies, to identify and apprehend suspects who utilize the internet to entice and/or coerce young people into prostitution.
The police officer added WCPD also assists local police units in human trafficking-related investigations and/or task force operations, conducts rescue operations of victims of violence against women and children (VAWC) as well as victims of trafficking in persons, and conducts relevant information-gathering activities, processing and analyses of gathered information for policy and strategy formulation.