Muslim groups demand: No whitewash in rape

MANILA, Philippines –  Muslim groups yesterday condemned the gang-rape of a volunteer nurse in South Upi, Maguindanao two weeks ago and demanded “no whitewash” in the investigation.

In a statement, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and Noor-us Salam said the sexual assault on the 21-year-old nurse should not be ignored as it reflects the growing violence against women.

“We express solidarity with the victim and her family at these trying times and also with the health sector and various women’s organizations in demanding for a thorough and ‘no whitewash’ investigation of the case, especially as (the) suspects are alleged to belong to influential political families,” the two groups said.     

 Reports said the victim has been “ambulatory” in the past three days, but still could not fully communicate with her parents and doctors attending to her in a Davao hospital.            

“She is recuperating and has been (ambulatory), meaning she can move slowly now. We ought to thank Allah for this,” said Hadji Tahir Sulaik, provincial health chief of Maguindanao.

Sulaik, however, declined to comment if can now undergo questioning by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“That is something that has to be decided on collectively,” Sulaik said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters in Cotabato City last Friday that he has directed the investigators to locate the victim’s cell phone.

“She was seen talking to someone using that cellular phone just before she disappeared and was injured and half-naked many hours later. Maybe we can find some leads when we find that phone,” she said.

De Lima also ordered investigators to continue with their questioning of all of the seven detained suspects. “We must send the right people to jail,” she said.      

The two Muslim groups said the gang-rape is not only an attack against women and the nursing profession but “also an attack against the many underserved communities in Muslim Mindanao.”

“As fear for safety and security escalates and continues to drive away professionals from health and other sectors from serving in the rural communities, particularly in Muslim Mindanao, we strongly urge the local governments, non-government organizations, and communities to join efforts in establishing a safe and enabling environment for such professionals,” they said.

The groups expressed “serious concern” about what they bewailed as an “alarming rise” in violence against women.

“We believe that respect for the rights of women is a fundamental step in moving forward peace and development goals,” they added.

The PCID is a non-government organization dedicated to the study of Islamic and democratic political thoughts and the search for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Mindanao.

The Noor-us Salam (Women of Faith: Light of Peace), on the other hand, is a national network of Muslim women, religious scholars and peace advocates.                                  – With John Unson