gabriela solon condemns rape crimes committed by military men

Gabriela Representative Emmi De Jesus filed today a resolution urging the house committees on Human Rights and National Defense to jointly conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on rape cases involving members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as well as other law enforcement agencies.

“Samantalang iniatang ng Saligang Batas sa AFP ang papel bilang tagapagtanggol ng mga mamamayan, pinapabulaanan ito ng mga kaso ng karahasan na sila ang pinararatangan. Nakakabahala kung ginagamit nila ang kanilang posisyon at kapangyarihan upang pagsamantalahan ang walang labang mga kababaihan,” stressed Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus.

Mutya, a 17-year old victim, is currently suffering from mental illness and is confined at the National Center for Mental Health as a result of her rape trauma. While Lilia, a 21-year-old woman who accused six army soldiers of gang rape, withdrew the complaint that she lodged with the Masbate prosecutor’s office and signed an affidavit of desistance.

Lilia was raped by 6 members of 9th Infantry Battalion Bravo Company of the Philippine Army on January 30, 2012 in the army camp located in Barangay Puro, Municipality of Aroroy, and on February 2, 2012 in a lodging house of Carenderia Lazaro located at Barangay Calachuchi, Municipality of Milagros. Mutya was raped by 3 members of the 16th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army assigned in the Province of Rizal.

The Gabriela solon said that the soldiers should be charged criminally because the Anti-Rape Law states that rape is a crime against the person and the people, and is no longer just a violation of private chastity. They remain liable under the law, whether the victim pursued the case or not.

"These cases affirm all the more that, despite the tradition of 102 years of commemorating the National Women's Day, women continue to be violated. These cases affirm that all the more, women need to gather their collective voices to fight for their rights, and to fight for social justice," Rep. Emmi De Jesus ended.###