Most rape cases still unresolved - DSWD

Over a year after the execution of rape convict Leo Echegaray, justice still grinds very slowly for many child abuse victims.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) records yesterday showed that majority of the reported sexual abuse cases last year has remained unresolved.

The DSWD has served a total of 3,984 young victims of sexual and physical abuse in 1999, with rape accounting for a high 39 percent or 1,572 of the total number of cases.

Data also indicated that of the total number of cases being handled by the DSWD, only 97 have been decided by the appropriate court while 160 were dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.

However, 16 percent or 505 have been filed in court and 135 are now ready for filing. A significant number or 987 are still being tried in court and another 345 are still pending trial.

Records from the Quick Response Team of the DSWD also showed that 228 of sexual abuse cases are still being investigated by police authorities while 331 or 11 percent of the total number of cases have been settled amicably.

The same records revealed that most of the child abuse victims were young girls below 21 years old. Children aged 11 to 15 years had for the biggest number, accounting for 1,123 of the total victims.

Southern Tagalog had the highest incidence of sexual abuse cases with 616 followed by Region XI, covering the Davao provinces, had 398. The Ilocos region was third at 337. The records did not include cases from the National Capital Region.

Other regions with high rape incidence were Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Central Luzon, Region XII (Lanao and Cotabato) and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

To address the high incidence of sexual abuse in the country, Vice President and Social Welfare Secretary Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sought the immediate creation of rape crisis centers nationwide.

Arroyo said the law mandating the establishment of rape crisis centers has long been enacted but is yet to be implemented due to lack of budget on the part of the DSWD.

She said the DSWD has long drafted the implementing rules and regulations of the rape crisis center law but it does not yet have the fund to support the program.

"We cannot sacrifice the other programs of the DSWD," Arroyo noted as she called on the national government and local government units to help in the implementation of the rape crisis center law.

The DSWD is providing appropriate services to help sexual abuse victims. It is also implementing programs aimed at preventing crimes against women and children.