Metro rape cases up by 40%

Rape cases have increased by 40 percent in Metro Manila, reaching 260 last year compared to the 188 incidents documented in 2001. Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda expressed "grave concern" over the increase, and promptly renewed her call for Congress to fund the implementation of a law providing for the establishment of state-run crisis centers for rape victims.

Nationwide, the total number of rape complaints reached 2,592 last year – little changed from the 2,613 reported in 2001, Legarda said.

Metro Manila had the second highest number of rape cases reported last year after Southern Tagalog, which had 476 incidents.

Camp Crame figures show that after the National Capital Region, Bicol and Central Visayas had the highest number of rape cases, with 237 each.

A total of 206 cases were reported in Central Luzon; 162 in Northern Mindanao; 153 in Eastern Visayas; 142 in Central Mindanao; 120 in Western Visayas; 109 in Cagayan Valley; and 108 in Western Mindanao.

The regions that reported less than 100 cases each were Ilocos, 88; the Cordillera, 68; Caraga, 66; and Muslim Mindanao, 25.

Legarda lamented that the Rape Victims’ Assistance and Protection Act, which Congress passed in 1998, has yet to be funded.

The law mandates the putting up of at least one rape crisis center in each city and province nationwide, and sets aside an initial million for such facilities. The amount, however, has yet to be authorized by Congress in the annual budget.