THE number of rape cases in Pangasinan though lower than last year still made the province with the second highest incidents across the country.

This fact was reported by P/Col. Redrico Maranan, police provincial director, to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last Monday.

“Pangasinan ranked second place once more with the highest occurrence compared to other provinces but based on the statistics, the rape cases recorded for calendar year 2019 was 212 incidents compared to 248 incidents in 2018,” Maranan reported.

There were 43 rape cases from May, June and July alone this year, he added as he underscored that based on their records last year, 90 percent of the rape cases were filed in court.

He added that many of the cases were statutory rape involving victims who are minors and charged as perpetrators were the victims’ either uncle, step brother, neighbor or stepfather.

Fifth District Board Member Rosary Gracia Perez-Tababa said the report is alarming. “This is not good… It’s actually a problem of everyone. I, as a woman and mother are affected,” she said.

In reaction, Tababa said a special program must be crafted and launched by the provincial government to address the high incidence of rape, particularly statutory rape cases.

Meanwhile, Maranan reported that comparing the data with other provinces similar to Pangasinan with the same land mass and population, Maranan said Pangasinan ranks third with Cavite, as having the lowest incidents of homicide cases.

On physical injury cases, Pangasinan is number two with the highest occurrence compared to other provinces, he said. “But the physical injury cases for 2019 had decreased by 45 incidents from the 300 reported incidents last year to 258 this year,” he added. (Philstar Wire Service)

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