THE Philippine National Police (PNP), in a report, said that rape remains second in terms of the most number of criminal cases in the country.
This is why the PNP is in favor of raising the age of sexual consent among the youth from 12 years old to 16 years old.
PNP Spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said a total of 9,503 rape cases were recorded by the PNP last 2020 wherein 7,000 minors were recorded as victims.
This went down to 8,460 last 2021 with more than 6,000 minors listed as victims.
About 594 rape cases were recorded in January 2022, with 457 minors as victims.
According to Col Fajardo, the numbers cited in the data may still increase due to the change in the age of sexual consent under Republic Act 116481. However, she said this is supported under the new law.
It was learned that there is a separate unit in the PNP for women called Women and Children Protection Center.
Its objective is to act on all complaints related to women and children.
Meanwhile, theft continues to lead with the most number of crimes recorded by the PNP.