THE INTEGRATED Gender and Development Division (IGDD) noted a 28% decrease in rape cases in 2023.
During the Kapihan forum on March 22, IGGD chief Lorna Mandin said the police recorded 128 incidents in 2023, down from the 178 cases the previous year. She attributed the decrease to the continuous effort and proactive involvement of police stations and other local government agencies in engaging with communities.
“Different agencies and all police stations have engaged in various communities, and it even went to the extent of organizing different families and sets of leaders at the community level to combat and talk about disseminating efforts on anti-rape,” Mandin said.
Mandin highlighted the Davao City Police Office’s Oplan Kilos, a campaign that combats sexual crimes, as instrumental in bringing down the cases.
Similarly, Capt. Catherine Dela Rey, Police Regional Office (PRO) XI spokesperson, also noted a 59.4%% decrease in rape cases in Davao Region, from 96 cases in the first quarter last year down to 57 cases in the same quarter this year.
“We can say that the advocacy of PRO XI is very effective, and hopefully, we will sustain the decrease in cases for the following months, especially with the violation cases against women and children,” dela Rey said.
Despite the decrease, Mandin stressed that the division is still eyeing for a total eradication of gender-based violence in the city.
“One case is still a case. As long as there is still a case, we will not stop our operations, as our goal is to eliminate and eradicate gender-based violence, including rape cases,” she said, urging the public not to be complacent but to stay vigilant.
