Legarda seeks Senate probe on child rapes

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the rising number of child rape cases in the country.

“The Senate (should) conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the series of reported rape cases against children, with the end view of reviewing existing policies and strengthening laws to prevent the commission of rape and other forms of abuse,” Legarda said in her Resolution No. 1050.

“We are very concerned with the alarming increase of child rape cases, especially that many of the perpetrators are relatives of the victims, trusted individuals. We need to find out whether our current laws are enough or are even being properly implemented to punish the guilty, protect the victims and empower the state to help the victims recover anew,” she added in a separate statement.

Legarda cited a statement from the Commission on Human Rights condemning nine incidents of child rape in the country: a 15-year-old student raped by a motorcycle rider and a 14-year-old girl raped by her father and uncle, both in Metro Manila; a girl raped when she was 10 years old until she was 17 by her uncle in Calamba, Laguna; a 14-year-old girl raped by her father in Argao, Cebu; a seven-year-old girl raped by her 19-year-old brother, as well as her uncle and cousin, in Marikina; a girl raped and impregnated by her stepfather in Quezon; among others.

Two were rape-slay incidents: a girl abducted and found dead at a grassy area in General Santos City and an 11-year-old girl in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte allegedly raped and killed by a 20-year-old male relative.

Legarda lamented that many rape cases were committed by the victims’ relatives, “which significantly intensifies the victims’ trauma, leading to long-term emotional and psychological damage that far surpasses the physical harm.”

Citing January to May 2024 data from the Child Protection Network Foundation, Legarda said 2,890 or 70.85 percent of the total 4,079 reported cases of violence against children are sexual abuse or assault cases.

She called on Congress to pass Senate Bill 2401, which she filed, to institutionalize women and children protection units in all government hospitals.

“We are also seeking to assess if the substantial amount spent regularly on gender issues is making a significant impact on the most critical issues on gender and child rights,” Legarda said.