Davao City—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has mocked critics, saying the city government did nothing in the high number of rape incidents in this southeastern coastal city.
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In a statement, Carpio admitted she received reports the city had the highest number of rape incidents based on the 2017 data of the Philippine National Police.
She said she had made steps to signficantly decrease the number after receiving the report during the City Peace and Order Council meeting last year.
“In 2017, this fact has been taken up in the Davao City Peace and Order Council, where it was discovered that many of these cases where incestuous rape or rape by someone who has a close relationship with the victim such as a neighbor or a friend (sic),” the mayor said.
After the meeting, the City Social Services and Development Office conducted a research and implementation program aimed at bringing the number of rape incidents to zero.
“One of these interventions, and the most effective of which, targeted communities where children are taught about sexuality and sexual abuse, including when a touch by a family member is no longer appropriate and acceptable,” Carpio said.
Due to the efforts of the CSSDO, she said there had been a significant decrease of incestuous rape from 120 incidents from January to June last year to 95 in the comparative period this year.
She said the report came straight from Davao City Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum based on the data of the Women and Children Protection Investigation and Detection Management Board.
Carpio said the efforts of the City Government should not be overshadowed by the joke of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte.
“This positive effect of government action should not be lost in the repertoire of the President and the attacks by those who hate his guts and humor,” she said.
“I can truthfully say that there was action and positive effect.”
She then turned to the critics of her father and her family, asking if they have done something on the matter.
“And I pose this question to all who seemingly want to see Davao City fail—what have you done to help?” she asked.
Last week, critics showed their outburst over the “joke” remarks of Duterte when he said the reason for the higher number of rape incidents in Davao City was it had many beautiful ladies.
But the Philippine Commission on Women on Saturday stressed that rape was not a laughing matter and joking about it was offensive.
“Rape is no laughing matter. Rape can cause life-long emotional and physical effects on its victims. Even to non-victims, joking about rape is offensive,” it said in a statement.
Duterte’s joke is only the latest of several instances where he made light of the issue of rape.
PCW said rape was never a woman’s fault, but that of a dangerous mindset that stemmed from unequal power relations between men and women.
“A woman’s body, her appearance, or her clothes are not invitations for rape or any form of sexual violence. Rape victims are young and old, rich and poor, short and tall. People can be raped regardless of their physical attributes such as the color of their skin, body size, facial features, or hair style,” it said.
“Women are raped because their bodies are viewed as sexual conquests and objects, that can be owned and abused by men—a mindset which stems from the unequal power relations between men and women,” it added.
PCW called on people to put an end to rape culture by taking it seriously, adding “As long as there are people and institutions that trivialize rape, normalize sexual violence, embolden perpetrators, and put the blame on women, rape culture will continue to persist.
“As we strive to build a community free from all forms of gender-based violence especially against all women and girls, we call on all citizens to act and do their part in putting an end to rape and rape
culture by taking it seriously, speaking up against abuse and holding perpetrators accountable.” With Nat Mariano
