LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Police noted a sudden dip of rape cases in the province compared to last year.
From March 16 to October 5 this year, there were 19 rape cases recorded in the province compared to the 34 rape cases in the same period last year, according to Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO).
Colonel Elmer Ragay, Benguet PPO Provincial Director, attributed the decrease in the rape cases to the police’ continuing community partnership, engagement, and information education campaign.
“There were 19 incidents recorded so far for this year. To look at it on a brighter side, there were 34 last year, so we are talking about 58 percent decrease compared to the same period last year,” he said in the last Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force Meeting.
Aside from the intervention of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Ragay said he had been telling Benguet PPO personnel that while they conduct community visitations or information education campaign, they also focus and educate the male population.
He added this is also one of the reasons for the sudden drop of rape incidents, noting there are instances that minors are involved.
The Benguet PPO chief said parental guidance is also important.
“Hindi dapat nila pinapabayaan na ang mga bata na walang parental guidance,” Ragay explained.
Buguias had the highest case with five while Tuba registered three while two cases each were recorded in Atok, Itogon, Kibungan, and Mankayan, and one each in the towns of Kapangan, La Trinidad and Tublay.
Out of the 19 cases, three minor suspects were turned over to their respective Municipal Social Welfare Development Office.
He added all 13 municipal police stations in the province are practicing community partnership and IECs and try to reach out to all sectors as much as possible and special focus is given to the barangay level.
Previously, Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas said there should also be an in-depth study to identify the reason and factors to the rape cases in the province to have better interventions.
The PSWDO also said trainings and lectures are provided to enhance parent’s awareness of their responsibilities and boost capabilities in caring for their children through the Program Enhancement Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities. Lauren Alimondo