AUTHORITIES were alarmed that rape cases in Davao City increased in the third quarter of 2017 with 58 cases, a 7.4 percent hike compared to the same period last year with 54 cases.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum said that in October this year, they recorded a total of 12 rape cases involving children wherein the youngest victim is five years old while the oldest is 12.
They have already filed cases against the suspects, mostly are involved in illegal activities.
The suspects, he said, are usually a family member or friend of the victim who took advantage of the trust given to the suspect by the parents of the child victims.
He said that during the City Peace and Order Council (Cpoc) Meeting, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio noted the increase and directed them to address the issue.
Thus, they will roll out next month the Kinder Cops, a campaign against rape, in all private and public schools where he will direct the entire station commanders to conduct an orientation on the issue.
Policewomen will be assigned to conduct information dissemination among young girls on the "bad touch" and "good touch".
He reminded the public to be aware of the crime and urged the parents to guide their children to keep their children away from rapists.