By Aaron Recuenco
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Thursday a decrease by 24 percent in the number of rape cases for one year.
From 9,204 cases from July 2016 to June 2017, the number went down to 6,999 cases from July 2017 to June this year, said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
The PNP leadership released the data amid the social media uproar over the anti-rape tips released by the Angono Municipal Station which most netizens found offensive.
Durana said the PNP leadership is open to the suggestion of Senator Risa Hontiveros and other women’s groups to revise the anti-rape tips by the PNP.
"We agree with the good senator that the guidelines on rape prevention need to be updated with due consideration to gender sensitivity issues," Durana said.
“The updated rape prevention guidelines should include early education of male and female teenagers on rape as a crime, and raising awareness on newer and more dangerous date-rape drugs,” said Durana.
Based on the investigation results of the PNP, among the date-rape drugs are GHB, MDMA, and Ecstacy.
Durana conceded that educating the youth is important to instill in the minds of the public, especially the males on the respect on the rights of women.
“While we cannot control criminal motive, we can help prevent it through gender-blind self-education. Both men and women ought to know that rape is a serious crime and that they can go to jail if they violate another person’s human rights,” said Durana.
He, however, defended the Angono Police for its anti-rape tips, saying the police unit is only concerned about the safety of women.
“To be fair with the Angono Police Station, it’s a good initiative. They mean well,” he said.