TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (PIA)- – The Women and Child Protection Desk of the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office filed all 123 rape cases lodged at its office last year in court, in close coordination with the police Family, Juvenile, and Gender and Development units provincewide.
During the March women’s episode of the “Sayron Ta! Pakigsayod” radio program aired over DXNR radio 911, DNPPO WCPD Chief Police Major Anjanette Tirador revealed that of the 123 rape cases filed in court, 63.79 percent achieved clearance efficiency, meaning the police are awaiting the release of warrants of arrest to apprehend the suspects.
“The remaining 36.21 is considered as solution efficiency … meaning the suspects have been apprehended, so naa na sila sa prisohan (so they are now in prison),” she said during the program aired live on March 12.
Based on the Criminal Investigation Recording Analysis System, Tirador said the DNPPO also registered 55 cases of acts of lasciviousness; 37 cases of violation of Republic Act 7610, the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”; 54 cases of violation of the Violence Against Women and Children Act; and 31 other cases of violations against women and children.
“All of the 301 reported cases are filed in court. The mere fact nga naay data, na filed, meaning ni pursue jud ang victims sa pag file ug kaso (that the victims have pursued filing their cases),” she said.
Tirador said the victims were fully informed of the government’s assistance to enable them to pursue charges against the perpetrators.
“Kana part sa among pag orient sa ilahan para mas matagaan sila ug kusog nga mo file sa cases (That is part of orienting them to give them the strength to file their case),” she said.
“Walay bayad. kami himo sa affidavit. kami ang mo assist sa pag file sa case sa prosecutor, so ang ilang abogado is the prosecutor, meaning naa ang balaod, naa ang government nga mo assist sa ilaha,” she added. (No fees. We do the affidavit. We assist in filing the case to the prosecutor, who serves as their lawyer. That means, the law is there, that the government is there to assist them.)
Tirador noted a lower number of nine rape cases from January to February 2025 compared with 22 in the same period in 2024.
Tirador was optimistic the downward trend of rape cases would be sustained throughout the year with the intensified monitoring and information drives of all the FJGAD units of the police provincewide, including the DNPPO Mobile Police Force.
“Kung naay kahibalo, kabalo naka unsaon pag protect sa imong kaugalingon (If we have the knowledge, we would know what to do to protect ourselves)… The thrust is to police ourselves, to keep ourselves safe,” she said.
Tirador revealed the profile of the rape perpetrators and the victims based on CIRAS data gathered through case buildup and in-depth investigations.
Most of the perpetrators were “of age” and were found to be under the influence of intoxicating drinks or illegal drugs, based on victims’ testimonies, or mentally ill but users of illegal drugs upon further investigation, Tirador said.
“Majority of the suspects’ profile is that they are not related to the victim pero nakaila ang victim (but the victims have known them). Sad to say… there were ‘papa’ parents, relatives, silingan (neighbors),” she said. “90 percent of the suspects, naka ila jud ang victim (the victim had known them),” she added.
The easily accessed web-based pornographic materials also expose victims to rape, said Tirador, who also noted that some victims exposed themselves online.
In addition to the DNPPO’s intensified awareness campaign, Tirador called on mothers and guardians to monitor their children’s gadget use.
“Considering that they are minors, the parents or the guardians have the full authority to check,” she said, referring to gadgets used by children who, Tirador said, would possibly resist cellphone checks.
Most rape victims in 2024 were ages 10 to 17, but Tirador revealed there were victims as young as 2 years old in previous years. (JMDA, PIA XI)
