8 raped daily during quarantine – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — An average of eight people a day have fallen victim to sexual assault in the country during the community quarantine.

Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that 602 people across the country were raped from March 17 to May 23 or an average of eight people daily.

The PNP did not go into details on the areas with the highest number of cases and if there were children among the victims.

The figure is lower by 53 percent, or an average of 18 victims a day, compared to the 1,289 cases documented from Jan. 9 to March 16, before the government imposed quarantines to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The PNP recently defended itself from allegations that some police officers manning quarantine control checkpoints are involved in a “sex for pass” scheme.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa took exception to what he described as sweeping allegations by unnamed sources that some police officers are allowing women passage at security checkpoints in exchange for sexual favors.

“I strongly urge those unnamed sources to immediately report to the PNP and file charges against suspected wrongdoers,” Gamboa said.

“In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have police frontliners who risk their lives on a daily basis. It is unfair that they become part of an unfounded generalization simply because of the criminal actions of a few,” he said.

In an interview on dwIZ, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said they have yet to receive a complaint against a police officer for sexual abuse.