City offices increase advocacy and visibility efforts to combat rape

The Davao City Police Office has conducted more advocacy activities in the barangays and also increased patrols to deter criminal acts such as rape in initially under-supervised areas.

DCPO Spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey said that City Director Col. Alberto Lupaz has already given the double directive, especially for the newly graduated patrolman and patrolwomen.

“Gipa-intensify nato ang atong patrollers and of course dili man gyud ma cover sa police ang tanang area so gina-tap pud nato ang mga barangay tanod (We intensified our patrollers and of course since the police cannot cover everything, we also tapped our barangay tanods),” Dela Rey said.

She said that since the barangays cannot also cover everything, she is enjoining all sectors of society to help in combatting rape.

DCPO is currently at phase 1 of OPLAN Kilos which consists of advocacy programs in the barangays.

Dela Rey said that in their information dissemination campaign against rape in the barangays, they stress the importance of reporting the incident immediately.

“Kung late reporting mangita pata ana kay maghulat pata og warrant of arrest, unlike kung immediate reporting dakpon dayon, inquest proceeding, kulong dayon, dako ang posibilidad nga dili na makapambiktima pa ang suspect (With late reporting, it will take time for police officers to look for the suspect because we will need a warrant of arrest, unlike immediate reporting when we can make an arrest, conduct inquest proceeding and could immediately detain the suspect and there is huge possibility that the suspect will not have more victims),” De la Rey said.

Meanwhile, she also emphasized that children in the family should know about the “good touch” and “bad touch”. She differentiated that children as young as they are should know that there are body parts that even family members could not touch.

City Social Welfare Development Office Officer-In-Charge Julie Dayaday stressed the importance of awareness on the type of touches by children because after years of service at the Balay Dangupan- a CSWDO facility for the victims of rape, she was able to verify that the rape suspects are primarily the parents and family members of the victims.

She likewise said that most of these children were “groomed” by their family members into thinking that sexual acts and lascivious touches are okay.

Dayaday said that it is conclusive that the recorded rise in rape cases could be attributed to the resumption of face-to-face interactions in the community.

“Naa man gud ta sa pandemic two years. Walay chance nga makasulti pag naa gani sa sulod sa balay ang atong perpertrators naay hulga, walay lain mainstoryahan pati ang mother (We were in pandemic for two years. There was no chance for them to share it, since the perpetrators are inside the home there exists a threat and they (victims) could not even share anything to their mother),” Dayaday said.

She said that for ways forward, the CSWDO is poised to bring back its advocacy programs against rape and that they will make sure that such programs will “suit this generation”.

She said that they will also advocate for responsible use of social media as it was among the factors that rape cases are perpetuated.

Dayaday also assured that as to the victims of rape, the city has programs to support them to heal and lead a fruitful life despite their experience.

She cited that Davao City’s Balay Dangupan has already eight success stories of rape victims who, through the help of the city, were now licensed professionals in their fields, are well integrated in the community, and were able to inspire those who are currently housed in the facility. CIO