Monsters

Gang rape. A woman’s worst nightmare, let alone a 16-year-old teen’s. This is what an unfortunate teen underwent in Naga City, Cebu last week. She was found on top of a water tank in Barangay Jaguimit. Based on the testimony of the victim, she attended the debut party of a classmate the night before. There, a drinking session took place. That should have been a red flag, but these are teens who are enjoying this phase of their lives. Assuming the victim was already drunk or even drugged --someone claims to have seen one of the boys slip something in her drink-- they then hatched their evil plan and took her to a secluded place where five took turns violating her.

The report makes no mention that the suspects have been arrested but they have been identified and will face charges. Since they are all minors, their identities have not been divulged. I hope and pray they are all arrested and tried. I don’t care if they are minors. They knew what they were doing was a crime and yet they carried it out. They must be held accountable for destroying a young girl’s life.

I have a daughter. I know she will eventually grow up to be a teenager. I do plan to be as strict as I can be, within reason, of course, with regard to going to parties and such. My husband might even be stricter and require chaperones. That’s his prerogative as a parent. I cannot imagine my daughter going through what this poor 16-year-old went through. I also have brothers with daughters of their own. They know what to do with regard to guiding their daughters.

Rape is not a crime of passion but of violence, hate, and humiliation. The crime does not happen because of temptation. There is nothing passionate about forcing oneself onto another. It is a power trip. These five boys enjoyed subduing the girl. Horrible. If and when they get caught, I don’t care what they have to say for themselves. Monsters, all of them that need to be behind bars.

This reminds me of another high-profile kidnap, rape, and murder case in Cebu of the Chiong sisters in 1997. All seven defendants were convicted of the crime and meted out the death penalty. But the death penalty was abolished so their punishment was reverted to life imprisonment. The main perpetrator served his life sentence in Spain by virtue of his dual citizenship and treaties between countries. The other six I assume are still incarcerated. One of the Chiong sisters’ bodies was never found.

Like I said, monsters.