Statement of the Commission on Human Rights denouncing the recent cases of rape in Lucena City, Quezon and Naga City, Cebu

(Trigger warning: Sexual assault, rape, murder, death)

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Region IV-A and VII are doing their independent and parallel investigation into the recent separate cases of rape of two minors in Lucena City, Quezon and Naga City, Cebu.

According to the Lucena police, the naked dead body of an 8-year girl old believed to be raped was found at a vacant lot in Brgy. Gulang-Gulang in the morning of 31 May 2023. Her face was plastered and there were bruises all over her body. In Cebu province, a 16-year-old Grade 10 student was reportedly ‘gang-raped’ by at least five classmates and schoolmates on the evening of 25 May 2023 after attending a debut party. Medical results revealed that the teenage girl was raped.

CHR welcomes the aggressive efforts of the local police of Lucena City and Naga City to investigate and gather evidence to be able to file charges against the perpetrators. We also recognize the psychosocial support being provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to surviving victim in Naga City. We hope that both families of the victims are also receiving the necessary social, financial, and psychological assistance.

This is the third month in a row that the Commission monitored and took cognizance of series of alarming cases of rape mostly involving minors. As the Ombud for Children and Gender, we staunchly denounce the unabated frequency of sexual violence committed against girls and children. Rape and sexual crimes, especially those committed against vulnerable minors, are a grave attack to the dignity, bodily integrity and sexual autonomy, physical and mental health, personal security, freedom, and life of a person.

Aside from law enforcement measures, we continue to call for strengthened programs and campaigns that will create a culture of respect and care for women and children and to help eliminate discrimination and misogyny. It is equally essential that communities are capacitated in helping to create safe spaces and to participate in measures that prevent the re-occurrence of sexual violence towards these vulnerable groups.

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To report emergency cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) and gender-based violence, contact the PNP Women and Children Protection Center’s Facebook page or mobile number at 09197777377.

To report violations of the Safe Spaces Act and street harassment in public and online spaces, visit the CHR’s Bawal Bastos portal: https://bit.ly/ReportBawalBastos