DSWD to debrief two minors in alleged rape

CEBU, Philippines - The 13-year-old deaf-mute girl and the 16-year-old boy who reportedly raped her were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper assessment and stress debriefing.

On Thursday, the boy was taken by his own parents to the Guadalupe Barangay Hall in Cebu City after he allegedly raped the girl Wednesday night.

Both minors were turned over to Guadalupe Police Station for questioning pending the result of the medical examination.

Senior Inspector Arieza Otida, chief of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the Cebu City Police Office, said they found out during the investigation that the two minors had a mutual relationship.

She added that the girl and her parents are not interested in filing a case against the boy.

For now, Otida said, they referred the girl to the DSWD to have her situation assessed and let her undergo stress debriefing.

Otida said they consider rape cases involving minors as alarming especially with the accessibility of the Internet.

“Ang mga offender karon nagkabata na. Makita nato nga ang Internet itself has a big influence sa mga kabatan-onan,” she said.

She said that minors’ access to the Internet, particularly to pornographic sites, could be also attributed to the lack of attention and guidance by their parents.

“Ang mga parents karon kay very lax na sa pagbantay sa ilang mga anak. Pasagdan na sila sa pagtan-aw sa TV or pagsud sa mga Internet cafés,” she said, as she advised parents not to disregard their children and warn them from entering such establishments.

She said they will also call the attention of Internet café owners and inform them on the sanctions they will have to face if they allow minors in their establishments.

“Dugay na sila gipanhangyo, however, naa man g’yud mosukwahi. We need siguro from time to time, panghimangnoan g’yud sila or mo-take na g’yud mi og action for their sanctions na g’yud,” she said.

The police will coordinate with the Cebu City Council to have the business permits of these Internet cafes regulated, added Otida.

“If ever magsige gihapon sila, might as well propose unsa’y mahimo nato, sirad-an or confiscate siguro ilang permits,” she said. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/NSA (FREEMAN)