Legarda calls for Senate investigation into child rape

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda has filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the rising number of child rape cases in the country.

“The Senate (should) conduct an investigation into the numerous reported cases of child rape in support of the legislation, with the aim of reviewing existing policies and strengthening laws to prevent rape and other forms of abuse,” Legarda said in her Resolution No. 1050.

“We are very concerned about the alarming rise in child rape cases, especially since many of the perpetrators are relatives of the victims, trusted people. We need to find out whether our current laws are sufficient or even properly implemented to punish the guilty, protect the victims and empower the state to help the victims recover,” she added in a separate statement.

Legarda cited a statement by the Commission on Human Rights condemning nine cases of child rape in the country: a 15-year-old schoolgirl raped by a motorcyclist; a 14-year-old girl raped by her father and uncle, both in Metro Manila; a girl raped from the age of 10 to 17 by her uncle in Calamba, Laguna; a 14-year-old girl raped by her father in Argao, Cebu; a seven-year-old girl raped by her 19-year-old brother, uncle and cousin in Marikina; a girl raped and impregnated by her stepfather in Quezon; to name a few.

Two of the cases were rape and murder incidents: a girl was abducted and found dead on a lawn in General Santos City, and an 11-year-old girl in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte was allegedly raped and killed by a 20-year-old male relative.

Legarda lamented that many rapes are committed by the victims’ relatives, “which significantly increases the trauma of the victims and leads to long-term emotional and psychological damage that far exceeds the physical harm.”

Citing data from the Child Protection Network Foundation from January to May 2024, Legarda said 2,890 or 70.85 percent of the total 4,079 reported cases of violence against children were cases of sexual abuse or assault.

She called on Congress to pass Senate Bill 2401, which she introduced, which would establish women and child protection units in all government hospitals.

“We are also trying to assess whether the significant amounts regularly spent on gender issues have a significant impact on key gender and children’s rights issues,” Legarda said.