SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – To address the alarming occurrence of rape cases in the Calabarzon region, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched its rape prevention education and police intervention strategy entitled Project “L.U.K.A.S”.

The Project L.U.K.A.S or Labanan, Umaksyon, Kausapin ang buong Pamilya, Abusadong Rapist, Sama-samang Pigilin aims to fortify the grassroots campaign of the police to combat the increasing number of rape cases, which include statutory rape, rape under the influence of liquor and illegal drugs, fetishism, gang rape, and grave abuse of authority.

In 2023, the Police Regional Office (PRO) IV-A recorded 1,205 total rape cases in the region. The majority falls under the use of force, threat, and intimidation modus at 771 cases, followed by statutory rape at 244 cases, under liquor influence at 123 cases, among others.

PBGen Paul Kenneth Lucas, the regional director of PRO IV-A, underscores the need to reinforce the existing police interventions to fight the increasing numbers of rape incidents and other crimes involving women and children.

“I am committed to consolidate and enhance our existing programs and police interventions to prevent the increase of rape cases and other crimes victimizing women. We will not only carry out PROJECT L.U.K.A.S. to put an end to domestic rape, but we will also launch various programs that will provide knowledge and empower our youth and women to combat abuse and wrongdoing,” Lucas affirmed.

Under the project, police officers, with the help of barangay officials, will conduct household visitation and present an audiovisual explainer underscoring awareness and education on how to prevent and avoid the occurrence of rape incidents in their household, while using the internet, or while in a public area, regardless of their gender.

Along with information and awareness campaigns, the PRO IV-A continues to carry out arrest warrants and was able to arrest 268 individuals involved in rape, 149 for the crime of Acts of Lasciviousness, 16 involved in violation of VAWC Law while 82 individuals were arrested for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law from October 2023 to March 2024.

Quezon Governor Angelina Helen Tan, the chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council, commended the PNP leadership for following her orders to further strengthen the surveillance and enforcement of rape cases.

Through the RPOC, a convergence program among government agencies was formed to ensure that initiatives preventing rape are supported through their respective functions. Agencies involved in the program include PRO IV-A, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) IV-A, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IV-A, Department of Education (DepEd) IV-A, Department of Health (DOH) IV-A, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) IV-A.

“It is commendable that the program will reach the grassroots levels especially in our barangays. It's saddening that these incidents occur in our communities, with victims feeling powerless. When our fellow citizens are armed with information, especially considering that most victims come from poor families, the number one challenge they face is not knowing where to turn or who to talk to,” Tan said.

PNP urges the public to actively engage with their community leaders and community police officers to build open and transparent communication that will help law enforcement in the campaign against rape. (CH/PIA-Laguna)