MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said there has been a sharp increase in the number of rape cases in the country this year.
The PNP said that there has been a 35 percent increase in the number of rape cases recorded in the past nine months, from January to October, with a total of 7,306 cases.
Records from the PNP's Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) showed that 76.9 percent of the victims were minors.
Chief Superintendent Juanita Nebran, PNP WCPC director, however, clarified that the increase in rape cases can be attributed to the improved reporting of cases and not necessarily an increase in the actual number of rape cases.
Nebran said that children are indeed more vulnerable to abuse.
"Sila yung walang kakayahang lumaban at takot sila," she added.
Nebran said authorities can only do so much as police intervention and successful prosecution depends on the rape victim’s willingness to come forward.
"Hindi namin sila matutulungan kung tatahimik lang sila," Nebran said.