BENGUET Governor Crescencio Pacalso is set to call on village councils after statistics show rape incidents in the province the highest in the region.
The Philippine National Police released the latest crime index from January to May this year logging rape cases in each area with Benguet leading with 27 cases, Baguio City, 23; Ifugao, 20; Kalinga, 11; Mountain Province, nine; and Abra and Apayao, seven cases each.
Pacalso said statistics also show that perpetrators have become younger, alarming officials further.
The governor said he is ordering a profiling of cases to know the factor leading to the crime in a bid to understand the root of the problem.
Case studies will be done by provincial social workers.
In 2012, Cordillera police also reported a surge in rape cases for the province with a United Nations Children’s Fund report of abuse of children, showing the Cordilleras as one of the areas of concern.
A provincial summit on child welfare was done to address pressing issues on children in the province as a response to the problem.
A provincial situationer was presented on the extent and nature of the problem on children in conflict with the law.
Child abuse including parent factors, family characteristics, poverty and high risk neighborhoods and the costs of child abuse were also discussed during the forum.
Today, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is proposing to have a Gender and Development Focal Person assigned to each area for good measure. (Maria Elena Catajan)