More than half the total number of rape cases recorded in Dumaguete City in 2010 are incestuous in nature, Marina Mendoza, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, said.

Speaking at a recent forum in observation of Women’s Month, Mendoza said that 11 of the total 21 cases of sexual abuse last year, or 52.38 percent, were incestuous rape, with victims coming mostly from the lower income bracket.

Mendoza said many of these cases involved children who lived under the same roof with their parents, and in some instances, the mother would deny having knowledge of the crime, either out of fear of her husband, or fear of stigma.

One measure adopted by the city is to immediately pull the child out from her family, and keep her at a city government-owned temporary shelter pending investigation and taking the necessary action on her case.

Mendoza also attributed the increased reporting of rape and other similar sexual abuse cases to more awareness of the women of their rights and the existing laws for their protection and that of their children.

Meanwhile, a total of 137 sexually abused victims, including women and children, have been helped this year by the city government, and housed at the La Casa Esperanza, a facility for women and child victims of abuse.

Mendoza said admissions at the facility include not just victims from Dumaguete but also from other parts of Negros Oriental.

The temporary shelter can accommodate only up to 30 wards at a time and is expensive to run, thus, the need for other local government units to pitch in so the Dumaguete City government can sustain the services provided to their clients, Mendoza said.*JFP

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