In CamSur, PNP: rape cases decrease in Q1
By Zyra Ponce
The Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO) has registered 17 rape cases from January to mid-March this year, which number is lower by 33 cases than the recorded 50 rape incidents recorded for the same period last year, 2020.
According to Police Chief Master Sergeant Arlene Regachuelo of the Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD), the big decrease in rape incidents for the said period could be attributed on the launching of Oplan KASKAS (Kasurog Asin Sociodad Kontra Abusong Sekswal) implemented in the entire province starting Dec. 12, 2020.
Regachuelo said the WCPD’s Oplan KASKAS is being implemented in partnership with local government units (LGUs) barangay councils, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to eliminate violence against women and children (VAWC) incidents.
She explained that the program provides regular implementation of different activities and intervention programs such as seminars and talks being undertkane by lower units of WCPD to effectively address the rape incidents in the province.
Based on the WCPD’s report, a total of 220 rape incidents was recorded in Camarines Sur in 2020 or an average of 18 cases per month, which figure was the highest among the six provinces in the region.
Regachuelo added that rape cases were prevalent in the region in 2020 and posted a high rate compared to cases of physical injury and theft.
She said that most of the recorded cases were stranger rape or no relationship rape where the crime happened outside the house and only few were reported as incest rape or forced sexual activity within the family.
Based on the report of the PNP Regional Women’s and Children Protection Desk in the Bicol region, a total of 2, 512 incidents that victimized women and children were recorded in 2020. These include 737 VAWC cases such as physical; psychological; economic; and sexual abuse while 659 rape cases have been recorded.
On the recorded rape incidents, 313 were solved; 341 were cleared while 5 are still under investigation. Meanwhile, on the VAWC cases 187 were cleared; 545 were solved while 5 are still under investigation.