Republic of the Philippines

Province of Quezon

MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN

 Hon. ANGEZA MAE A. TAMAYO

Committee Chairwoman Social Services,

Women and Family

PRIVILEGE SPEECH

ARM (Anti-Rape Movement): A Renewed Call to Action

(Regular Session, March 6, 2023)

To our Honorable Presiding Officer and my fellow legislators I stand before you today as a woman who would would like to declare aggression against RAPE and all forms of Violence against Women, in time for the Women’s Month Celebration. I would like to call attention to the very alarming cases of violence that women faced,  most specifically on the pervasiveness of rape cases in our Municipality. What is more alarming is that the family that’s supposed to be our safe haven becomes a place of abuse for some victims for quite a long time.

Victims chose to remain silent out of fear for security, fear of being judged by the community and most commonly fear of what will happen next. I am sure Honorable Presiding Officer that all of us has the same hostility on this pressing matter. To put measure on this case let me share to you the data gathered by PNP Atimonan through the Women’s Desk, on rape cases . We have a total of 58 cases of rape from 2016 up to present:

l   Barangay Caridad Ibaba has a total of 9 cases;

l   Barangay Angeles with 6 cases;

l   Barangay Rizal and Barangay Tagbakin with 4 cases;

l   Barangay Balubad, Lubi, Sta. Catalina and Tinandog with 3 cases;

l  Zone IV Poblacion, Barangay Caridad Ilaya, San Andres Labak, San Rafael, Talaba and Villa Ilaya with 2 cases;

l   Barangay Balugohin, Zone 1 Poblacion, Barangay Lakip, Malinao Ibaba, Malinao Ilaya, Manggalayan Bundok, Manggalayan Labak, Matanag, Ponon, Sapaan and Villa Ibaba with 1 case;

Based on the data presented by PNP Atimonan, 5 years old is the youngest rape victim and 54 years old is the oldest. Let me share the age range of the victims:

l  5-10 years old - 7 rape cases

l  11- 15 years old - 30 cases

l  16- 20 years old - 11 cases

l  21- 30 years old - 3 cases

l  31-40 - 2 cases

l  41-54 - 2 cases

The age group with the highest cases is in 11-15 years old, most are in their Junior High School. The PNP Atimonan data shows that a victim is commonly victimized by a complete stranger (26/58 cases), but what truly heartbreaking is that this victims are also victimized by someone that they trust, a boyfriend / ex-boyfriend, workmate, friend, neighbor, and in cases of incest  even a father, a grandfather is the perpetrator. Here is the data for the relationship of the victim and their abusers:

l  No direct relationship to the victim - 26

l  Incest - 19

l  Father - 7; Step-father - 4 ;  Grandfather- 1; Uncle- 1; Niece - 1; Cousin - 1

l  Boyfriend / Ex-Boyfriend - 6

l  Workmate / friend - 4

l  Neighbor - 3

Honorable Presiding Officer, I am bringing this data to this August body to look at the current situation of women in our society. When obscene jokes are taken lightly even if women are uncomfortable receiving it, this jokes violates already the woman by sending indecent jest. And often times Honorable Presiding Officer, the victims are held liable for being abused. “Kasi gabing-gabi na eh nasa labas pa”, “ang ikli kasi ng suot kaya nangyari sa kanya yan”. “malandi kasi yan”, these are uncalled remarks that some victims receive when they decided to share their experiences. This is on top on the emotional dilemma that they are already experiencing. Based on the study conducted by PNP Atimonan the rape was triggered when the mother is absent or working outside Atimonan (OFW etc.), when the child or minor is under the care of another care-giver aside from the mother, Self-seclusion of the family, incest happened to those who live very far from the community. Also, when the girl or a woman is already comfortable to their close relatives and they fully trust them.

Another pressing matter dear Honorable presiding officer is that victims who live with their abusers, who wanted to file a case against their perpetrators felt restrained to do so because of the absence of financial capability and a house to live in to protect them. I have talked to some victim and asked why it took her a while to file a case, the reason is that they don’t have financial resources and that they depend on the abuser financially.

On this day, through this privilege speech. I would like to deliver a strong message against rape. Rape is an issue of power, dominance  on it’s victim’s physical or psychological capacity.

The data showed that as young as 5 years old, as a mother I cannot allow this to happen to my own child or to someone else child.  This period of innocence  is crucial for their development which has a great effect on her as an individual, but because of this  monstrous act, it changed her big time. She loses not only her innocence, but loses also a family member ----- her father.

To fully support this renewed call I would like to propose an Ordinance called RV (Rape Victim) Ordinance of Atimonan, Quezon.  This is to provide the RVs financial assistance on their medical, legal fees and to provide a temporary shelter for their protection. Also I would like to bring this movement in the Barangays, by equipping the Sangguniang Barangay on this matter.

Dear Honorable Presiding Officer, and to all my fellow legislators. Lets’ unite and work ARM-to-ARM against rape. This is a renewed Call for everyone in this room, and everyone who can hear this message. Rape does not affect only the body, it ruin the victim’s lives. It is more heinous than murder, for the victim dies throughout the period she lives  --- Amit Abraham.