Angono cops say sorry for anti-rape reminder

MANILA, Philippines — The Angono, Rizal Municipal Police Station apologized for posting a reminder on how to prevent rape, which has been criticized for putting blame on women instead of pinning sex offenders.

The apology came a day after it issued a 10-point list on how to avoid rape. Among the tips were “not wearing skimpy clothes” and “not drinking alcoholic beverages.”

The cops, however, said it was only their intention “to remind the public so they could avoid being rape victims.”

“As the proverb says: ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” they said.

The Angono Police also took down the post.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros noted that while the intention of the anti-rape information material may be good, it insults rape victims and other sexual violence and promotes victim-blaming.

“May I remind our police force that a woman’s clothing choice doesn’t cause rape. Clothes don’t cause rape, rapists do,” she said.

Gabriela Women’s Party also shared the same sentiment.

“We are correcting the Angono PNP: Wearing short skirts does not cause rape. Getting drunk does not cause rape. Rapists do cause rape. The misogynist exhortations by the president do cause rape,” it said.

Hontiveros, moreover, urged the security personnel to help educating the public, especially men, “that forcing upon themselves upon women is unacceptable and constitutes rape.”

According to the Philippine National Police, there were 7,584 reported rape incidents in 2017.

READ: Gabriela: Angono police’s ‘rape reminder’ puts blame on victims, not sex offenders