ABUSE against women under the Duterte administration has taken a turn for the worse.
Innabuyog spokesperson Audrey Corse said there are 3,272 cases of violence against women in the Cordillera logged since 2016 until June 2019.
Corse said the 276 mining claims as well as the 109 energy projects in the region have also not contributed to the welfare of women in the highlands as these perpetuate abuse especially with the military saying state forces have worsened the condition of women when they are deployed in the rural areas.
She added when military forces are stationed in rural areas, reports of rape, sexual harassment and abuse from soldiers have happened mostly to women activists and those active in the opposition.
According to police reports, physical abuse remains the top crime committed against women, while acts of lasciviousness are the leading crime against children in the Cordillera region with crimes committed in Baguio City, Benguet and Ifugao.
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.
This was done amidst the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games, which is mired in controversy due to corruption and displacement of indigenous peoples and peasants.