PNP launches new campaign to address rape and violence
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) officially launched on Monday a unified campaign specially designed to further reduce domestic violence and rape cases.
The campaign, dubbed “Oplan Kilos or the Kababaihan Kabantan-onan Kalalakinhan Igiya laban sa Pagpanglugos,” aims to address sexual assault involving women and kids. Police records revealed 1,353 rape cases from 2017 to 2022.
Regional police director, Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo, said the rape cases are alarming, but law enforcers could not address the problem on their own. They need the help of the local government units, church, socio-civic organizations, academe, medical sector, and the community.
He said the launch would kickstart a series of workshops and brainstorming sessions. “I would like this to be replicated in other provinces,” said Delvo, the activity’s guest of honor and speaker.
In an interview at the sidelines of the activity, Delvo pledged to direct his officers to work with barangay leaders to design a workshop to address rape and violence. In 2018, Davao City topped the areas in Davao Region with the most number of rape cases.
He said that the pandemic played a factor in the sudden spike in incest rape since the assault typically involved relatives and family members inside their homes.
“We really need to solve the problem of rape cases since most of the victims are children,” he said.
In a separate interview, Davao City Police Office director Col Alberto Lupaz, said the second quarter of 2018 saw a rise in rape cases, but they managed to reduce by 2022. Nonetheless, sexual assault remains one of the top three prevalent crimes in the city.
“That’s why we are doing this Oplan Kilos so that it will be our proactive measure that will start at the barangay level. Hopefully, we will be able to do it and implement it properly and … reduce the occurrence of rape cases in Davao,” Lupaz said.
The Oplan Kilos will identify 20 families in high-risk communities. They will undergo a series of training workshops to equip them with the proper tools for identification, prevention, and intervention. They will also work closely with the barangay to improve the campaign’s success.
“We are planning to conduct a social investigation where most rape cases happened,” he added, although they initially identified the police stations of Sta. Ana, Tugbok, and Talomo, which logged higher reports than the other precincts.
Moreover, Councilor Trisha Villafuerte, chair of the women, children and family relations committee, thanked the police leadership for launching Oplan Kilos.
“The office is your partner in suppressing criminalities. Together, we are helping and connecting each other to provide and achieve zero cases,” she said.
On the other hand, Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Sr., president of Liga ng mga Barangay, said the launch is timely since the country is celebrating women‘s month. He also committed the support of barangay officials to ensure the campaign’s success.
“As members of the PNP, we all know that we have to respond more to the violence against women and children,” Delvo said. “This activity is to lessen the domestic violence in Davao Region.”
