Rape In The Philippines
Encyclopedia
Rape, in Philippine Jurisprudence, is considered a criminal offense
. In Philippine society, it is a heinous crime punishable by life imprisonment
.
of 1930, now defines the crime of rape as follows:
The 1997 changes expanded the definition of rape and reclassified that crime as a Crime against persons instead of, as previously, grouping it with Crimes against Chastity.
In the Philippines
, The Asian Women's Resource Exchange (AWORC), an Internet-based women's information service, reports that 794 rapes occurred in the Philippines in the first four months of 1997.
During the first semester of 1999 alone, there were 2,393 children who fell prey to rape, attempted rape, incest, acts of lasciviousness and prostitution.
As of 2006, Rape continued to be a problem, with most cases going unreported. During the year, the PNP reported 685 rape cases There were reports of rape and sexual abuse of women in police or protective custody—often women from marginalized groups, such as suspected prostitutes, drug users, and lower income individuals arrested for minor crimes.
. The situation continued in 2007, with the number of reported rape cases increasing to 879.
and sexual abuse
.
Between 1995 and 2000 Amnesty International
received reports of more than 30 incidents of rape or other sexual abuse of women or girls in custody. The organization fears that this figure represents only a fraction of the real number of cases.
Rape of women detainees by police officers, jail guards or military officials always constitutes torture. It is both a physical violation and injury as well as a humiliating assault on a woman's mental and emotional integrity.
Other forms of sexual abuse by law enforcement officials, including the threat of rape, verbal sexual abuse and mocking, designed to degrade and humiliate, may also constitute torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
According to Amnesty International's information, there has been only a small number of convictions of police officers for rape of female detainees.
and Angeles City
was highly prominent during the time of the U.S. military bases called Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base
, respectively. It still exists to this day, though to a lesser degree.
Although the sex trade in the Philippines mostly caters to the indigenous population, NGOs and religious groups regularly sensationalize the problems of prostitution by drawing attention to the foreigner-oriented segment of this business. In Angeles City, the control is split between Filipino, Korean, Australian and American bar operators, though in 1987, Australians had a financial interest in more than 60% of the 500 bars and 7,000 prostitutes in the City In foreign-oriented prostitution bars, men pay an "early work release" to allow their chosen girl to leave with them. Sexual services are implied but are not guaranteed.
Philippines
Senator Ramon Bong Revilla
, Jr., on July 26, 2006, called for coordination with the Philippine National Police
vis-a-vis the public, the whistle blower and anti-prostitution Internet
online petitioner initiator, to shed light and solve the alleged human trafficking in the Philippines, prostitution in the Philippines
, sexual slavery
or trafficking in human beings den
s in Angeles City
, Pampanga
. Revilla re-filed Senate Bill No. 12, the "Anti Pornography Bill."
However, Angeles City police Chief Sonny Cunanan denied the allegations, alleging "the Women's and Children's Concerned Section (WCCS) and other agencies of the Angeles City Government that are responsible for the regular inspection of different bars and nightclubs have no records about the existence of a sex slave camp in the city." But he confirmed that "Angeles intelligence policemen, in coordination with other counterparts, were directed to look into the veracity of the report and file necessary charges against the operators of the illegal activities if these really exist."
During the first semester of 1999 alone, there were 2,393 children who fell prey to rape, attempted rape, incest
, acts of lasciviousness and prostitution
.
is upheld as a virtue
, the shame of being raped cuts deep. The same attitude lays blame on the victim, labeling the woman as “a flirt” who caused the act, wittingly or unwittingly, through various signals of enticement or invitation.
, says this is due to the victim’s fear of society’s judgment, of not wanting to be branded as “maruming babae” ("dirty woman"). The group says further that a rape victim becomes so afraid that she is going to be blamed for the crime, that she denies that she was violated.
Claire Padilla, a lawyer and advocate of women's rights who prosecuted the case of a 19-year old who had the mental capacity of a six-year old, says that a rape victim who keeps silent becomes easy prey for continued abuse.
With the assistance of NGOs, officers received gender sensitivity training to deal with victims of sexual crimes and domestic violence.
Approximately seven to eight percent of PNP officers were women.
The PNP has a Women and Children's Unit to deal with these issues.
provides counseling for battered women, rape victims and other victims of violence against women.
The Bathaluman Crisis Centre Foundation helps victims of rape and incest.
The Support Group Volunteers provide assistance, and psychological interventions may also be initiated at the centre. Where appropriate, cases are referred to other agencies for more specialist assistance.
The Women's Crisis Centre (WCC) provides temporary shelter, medical assistance and advocacy, legal assistance and advocacy, and stress management, it has two particularly innovative components - Feminist Counselling, and a Survivors Support Group to rape victims.
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
. In Philippine society, it is a heinous crime punishable by life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
.
The law
The Anti-Rape Law of 1997, which amended the previous definition of rape as defined in the Revised Penal CodeRevised Penal Code of the Philippines
The Revised Penal Code contains the general penal laws of the Philippines. First enacted in 1930, it remains in effect today, despite several amendments thereto. It does not comprise a comprehensive compendium of all Philippine penal laws. The Revised Penal Code itself was enacted as Act No...
of 1930, now defines the crime of rape as follows:
The 1997 changes expanded the definition of rape and reclassified that crime as a Crime against persons instead of, as previously, grouping it with Crimes against Chastity.
Statistics
Statistics on the incidence of rape are usually based on available police records. More often, these are inaccurate and not a true representation of the problem, for cultural and social stigmatisation associated with rape act as significant barriers to women reporting rape. Furthermore, women are more likely not to report rape if there is little support from their families, law enforcement agencies and the health sector.In the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, The Asian Women's Resource Exchange (AWORC), an Internet-based women's information service, reports that 794 rapes occurred in the Philippines in the first four months of 1997.
During the first semester of 1999 alone, there were 2,393 children who fell prey to rape, attempted rape, incest, acts of lasciviousness and prostitution.
As of 2006, Rape continued to be a problem, with most cases going unreported. During the year, the PNP reported 685 rape cases There were reports of rape and sexual abuse of women in police or protective custody—often women from marginalized groups, such as suspected prostitutes, drug users, and lower income individuals arrested for minor crimes.
. The situation continued in 2007, with the number of reported rape cases increasing to 879.
Rape and Sexual Abuse of Women in Custody
Women in the custody of law enforcement officials in the Philippines are vulnerable to torture, including rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
.
Between 1995 and 2000 Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
received reports of more than 30 incidents of rape or other sexual abuse of women or girls in custody. The organization fears that this figure represents only a fraction of the real number of cases.
Rape of women detainees by police officers, jail guards or military officials always constitutes torture. It is both a physical violation and injury as well as a humiliating assault on a woman's mental and emotional integrity.
Other forms of sexual abuse by law enforcement officials, including the threat of rape, verbal sexual abuse and mocking, designed to degrade and humiliate, may also constitute torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
According to Amnesty International's information, there has been only a small number of convictions of police officers for rape of female detainees.
Prostitution
Prostitution in Olongapo CityOlongapo City
The City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 50,300 households.-History:...
and Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
was highly prominent during the time of the U.S. military bases called Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
, respectively. It still exists to this day, though to a lesser degree.
Although the sex trade in the Philippines mostly caters to the indigenous population, NGOs and religious groups regularly sensationalize the problems of prostitution by drawing attention to the foreigner-oriented segment of this business. In Angeles City, the control is split between Filipino, Korean, Australian and American bar operators, though in 1987, Australians had a financial interest in more than 60% of the 500 bars and 7,000 prostitutes in the City In foreign-oriented prostitution bars, men pay an "early work release" to allow their chosen girl to leave with them. Sexual services are implied but are not guaranteed.
Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Senator Ramon Bong Revilla
Bong Revilla
Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. , is a Filipino actor, politician and senator of the Republic of the Philippines. In 2009, he legally changed his last name to Bong Revilla....
, Jr., on July 26, 2006, called for coordination with the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
vis-a-vis the public, the whistle blower and anti-prostitution Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
online petitioner initiator, to shed light and solve the alleged human trafficking in the Philippines, prostitution in the Philippines
Prostitution in the Philippines
Human trafficking and the prostitution of children is a significant issue in the Philippines, often controlled by organized crime syndicates.Human Trafficking in the Philippines is a crime against humanity....
, sexual slavery
Sexual slavery
Sexual slavery is when unwilling people are coerced into slavery for sexual exploitation. The incidence of sexual slavery by country has been studied and tabulated by UNESCO, with the cooperation of various international agencies...
or trafficking in human beings den
Den
Den may refer to:*Den , a part of a house similar to the living room: a den is about the size of a living room, but smaller than a family room*Den , a Ukrainian newspaper*Den , a Pharaoh of Egypt...
s in Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
. Revilla re-filed Senate Bill No. 12, the "Anti Pornography Bill."
However, Angeles City police Chief Sonny Cunanan denied the allegations, alleging "the Women's and Children's Concerned Section (WCCS) and other agencies of the Angeles City Government that are responsible for the regular inspection of different bars and nightclubs have no records about the existence of a sex slave camp in the city." But he confirmed that "Angeles intelligence policemen, in coordination with other counterparts, were directed to look into the veracity of the report and file necessary charges against the operators of the illegal activities if these really exist."
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Rape is always associated with the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).Rape of Children
Research studies conducted in schools show that for every 3 Filipino children, one child experiences abuse.During the first semester of 1999 alone, there were 2,393 children who fell prey to rape, attempted rape, incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
, acts of lasciviousness and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
.
Victimization
In a conservative society like the Philippines where a woman’s chastityChastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
is upheld as a virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
, the shame of being raped cuts deep. The same attitude lays blame on the victim, labeling the woman as “a flirt” who caused the act, wittingly or unwittingly, through various signals of enticement or invitation.
Silence
Most victims of gang rape remain silent for months before reporting the crime. Obet Montes, coordinator for services of the women's group GABRIELAGABRIELA
GABRIELA is a leftist Filipino organization that advocates for women's issues.It is a nationwide network of grassroots organizations, institutions, and programs that address issues such as human rights, poverty, globalization, militarism, violence, health, sex trafficking, censorship and other...
, says this is due to the victim’s fear of society’s judgment, of not wanting to be branded as “maruming babae” ("dirty woman"). The group says further that a rape victim becomes so afraid that she is going to be blamed for the crime, that she denies that she was violated.
Claire Padilla, a lawyer and advocate of women's rights who prosecuted the case of a 19-year old who had the mental capacity of a six-year old, says that a rape victim who keeps silent becomes easy prey for continued abuse.
US Military Presence
In December 2006, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the rape of a Filipino woman. In April of 2009, after the accuser recanted her testimony, an appeals court acquitted Smith.PNP and DSWD
The PNP and DSWD both maintained help desks to assist victims of violence against women and to encourage the reporting of crimes.With the assistance of NGOs, officers received gender sensitivity training to deal with victims of sexual crimes and domestic violence.
Approximately seven to eight percent of PNP officers were women.
The PNP has a Women and Children's Unit to deal with these issues.
NGOs
The women’s group GABRIELAGABRIELA
GABRIELA is a leftist Filipino organization that advocates for women's issues.It is a nationwide network of grassroots organizations, institutions, and programs that address issues such as human rights, poverty, globalization, militarism, violence, health, sex trafficking, censorship and other...
provides counseling for battered women, rape victims and other victims of violence against women.
The Bathaluman Crisis Centre Foundation helps victims of rape and incest.
The Support Group Volunteers provide assistance, and psychological interventions may also be initiated at the centre. Where appropriate, cases are referred to other agencies for more specialist assistance.
The Women's Crisis Centre (WCC) provides temporary shelter, medical assistance and advocacy, legal assistance and advocacy, and stress management, it has two particularly innovative components - Feminist Counselling, and a Survivors Support Group to rape victims.