CBCP urges government, private sector to address incest cases

MANILA, Philippines –  An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said he is surprised by the growing incidence of incest in the country as reported by the Child Protection Unit (CPU)-Philippines.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission of Family and Life (ECFL) executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said incestuous relationships develop in a society when the moral foundation is weak.

“This (structure of permissiveness) should be jointly addressed by the Church, government, and the private sector,” he said.

Because of this, he said the Church should intensify its evangelization. 

CPU earlier reported that Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) topped the list of areas having the most number of reported incest cases in 2009 with 90 cases; followed by Region VII (Central Visayas) with 82; Region III, 60; Region II (Cagayan Valley) and National Capital Region with 50 each; and Region I (Ilocos Region) with 49.

It blamed the high incidence of incest in the country to the increasing number of women working overseas, as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

“This disturbing phenomenon of the girl-child being turned into substitute spouse has been happening in our country along with the feminization of labor migration,” CPU legal consultant Katrina Legarda said.