The Provincial Police Office (PPO) admits that they are facing a challenge on how to curb the rising incidence of incestuous rape in the province.
Palawan PPO deputy provincial director for operations Police Lieutenant Col. Ariel Sanchez said that while the MIMAROPA region where Palawan belongs has relatively lower crime incidence compared to other places, it has recorded a high incidence of rape.
“Itong probinsya natin, ang karamihan lang is yong RA 8353, ito yong rape. Yan ang laging tinatanong, ano ba ang police intervention? Ang hirap gawin kasi nangyayari sa loob ng tahanan,” Sanchez said.
He observed that many cases of rape in the province involves relatives of victims as perpetrators.
“Mostly, mga kamag-anak,” he said, referring to suspects.
Sanchez did not cite statistics on rape cases but he stated that in 2019, rape cases reported from the provinces of MIMAROPA significantly added to the national record.
“So far hindi ko pa na-review, nakikita ko pa lang sa ngayon. As of now, pati yong last year, ang taas ng kaso natin. Hindi lang sa Palawan. I’ve been the PDO of the Oriental Mindoro, ganon din ang usually na crime incident doon,” he said.
“Nakita natin sa kabuuhan, sa national na ang MIMAROPA ay mataas talaga so nahihirapan kami kung paano ang police intervention doon,” Sanchez added.
He added that it is possible that unreported cases of rape are higher than those reported and recorded in PNP.
“Itong sinasabi ko ay ito lang ang reported pero baka mas marami pa ang hindi nagri-report lalo na kapag ang involve ay magkakamag-anak within their level,” Sanchez said.
“Usually, kasi ang bahay dito, especially sa far-flung area, yong isang bahay lang, nandoon na ang kwarto, nandoon na yong kusina. Syempre kapag lasing na yong tatay o kapag wala yong nanay, usually ganoon. Kapag wala si nanay, nagtatrabaho somewhere else, kapag lasing na si tatay, tiyuhin o pati nga kapatid. Incestuous rape ang lagi, “ he added.
