Public assured PRO-7 cops handling rape cases seriously, steps taken to curb crimes

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) assures public steps taken to curb crimes like rape. | via Emmariel Ares

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) has assured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that crimes would be prevented, especially rape cases, three of which separately happened in Toledo and Carcar cities and Argao town in recent weeks.

“Wala ta na-alarma (We are not alarmed). But we are seriously taking each case very seriously,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the spokesperson of the director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin.

READ: Cebu Daily Newscast: Rape with homicide raps filed against suspect in killing of 17-year-old girl in Toledo City

Three separate rape cases

Pelare was referring to three separate cases of alleged rape and sexual assault incidents in Toledo, Carcar, and Argao in the previous weeks. 

Among the steps taken are to take these cases seriously and ensure that these will be solved, and patrolling crime areas.

The rape cases referred to included the man, who was was charged with rape with homicide in Toledo City for allegedly raping a 17 year-old girl on August 25. 

READ: Rape with homicide raps filed against suspect in killing of 17-year-old girl in Toledo City

Carcar, Argao rape cases

On August 26, a chappy cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a 14 year-old female student in Carcar City. 

In Argao, a man allegedly sexually assaulted his 9 year-old daughter and was nabbed by police on August 30.

READ: Rape charges filed against Chappy cab driver for allegedly assaulting girl in Carcar

Public told: Rape cases isolated ones

Pelare said that these recent cases were isolated and the suspects were immediately apprehended.

“Unya makita nato sa background sa suspects, murag naay uban nga ni-angkon nga they are using illegal drugs. Unya kato sang usa sa Argao, usa sa nakita adto is nagsige og tan-aw og porn sites ang suspect,” he added.

(And we saw on the background on the suspects that they admitted that they were using illegal drugs. And the one in Argao, this one, the suspect, allegedly was always watching porn in porn sites.)

Pelare again assured that the PRO-7 was taking these incidents seriously.

READ: Watching too much porn led father to sexually abuse 9-year-old daughter, says Argao police

Public told: Rape cases taken seriously

“These are taken seriously by PRO-7, but we believe that dili pa ni siya maka-aghat nato nga moingon ta nga alarming state ta,” he said.

(These are taken seriously by PRO-7, but we believe that this cannot yet push us to say that the cases are now alarming.)

READ: 3 foreigners arrested for alleged rape in QC

Affect peace and order in CV

However, Pelare said that these crimes that usually affect females had an effect on the peace and order in Central Visayas especially because they were unusual in the region.

To counter these challenges in the peace and order, the PRO-7 is determined to provide solutions in order to stop them from happening again. 

“Ang instruction sa atong regional director, is to make sure nga ang tanang kaso nga ingon ani, matutokan ug masolve gyud. Ikaduha, the unit commanders are given instructions to introduce mga interventions para dili na ni mahitabo pa usab,” stated Pelare.

(The instruction of our regional director is to make sure that all these cases will be taken seriously and will be soled. Second, the unit commanders are given instructions to introduce the interventions so that this will not happen again.) 

READ: Mother of 17-year-old girl, who was found dead in Toledo City, cries for justice

Interventions needed

He said that interventions would be put into place as directed by the regional director. 

“Ang unang mahimo sa atong kapulisan, nga gi-emphasize sa atong regional director, is to make sure nga ang atoang community relation activities will be intelligence lead,” he said. 

(The first thing that the police can do, which was emphasized by the regional director, is to make sure that our community relation activities head, will be the intelligence lead.)

READ: Suspect in rape-slay of 8-year-old girl in Lucena City found dead in jail

Talk to vulnerable sectors, study crime clock

According to Pelare, this means that they will be talking with vulnerable sectors of society, which includes women and students, to give them tips on how to keep themselves safe from these crimes.

“Ikaduha pud is ang atoang kapulisan, magstudy sa crime clock ug sa crime prone areas,” he said.

(Second is our police should study the crime clock and the crime prone areas.)

He emphasized that this next step would require that the deployment of police personnel would be set after a strategic analysis of crime situations and crime prone areas.

READ: 3 girls raped every week in Zamboanga City, crime stats show

Areas not visited by people

Pelare said that the recent rape incidents in Toledo and Carcar City were committed in areas that were hidden and were not visited by people.

“Ang patrolling nato should also cover these areas, not only in urban settings,” he said.

(Our patrolling should also cover these areas, not only in urban settings.)

He further said that police patrolling should be alert and consistent, especially in these areas where crimes usually happen without anyone noticing them.

Pelare said that individuals would commit any crime when they would have the opportunity to perpetrate the instrument to execute it, and the motive.

READ: Young kidnap victim in Mandaue claims suspect kissed her mouth and private parts

Public told: Don’t fall into criminals’ traps

This would be why it would be important to take extra caution in order to not fall to the traps of criminals, said Pelare.

“We remind our constituents nga dili maghatag ug opportunidad sa mga kriminal nga mabiktima nila. And of course atong kapulisan, kailangan ma-increase ang police presence nato,” he stated.

(We remind our constituents not to give opportunities to the criminals to victimize them. And, of course, to our police, they would need to increase their police presence.) 

According to Pelare, increased illegal drugs activity is also connected to the rise in rape cases in the region which is why the police are relentless in their intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

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