Spate of violence vs girls alarms CHR: Child safety must be ensured

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) caretaker and Executive Director Jacqueline Ann De Guia. Senate PRIB file photo / Voltaire F. Domingo

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has raised concern about the recent spate of violence against girls, urging authorities to ensure children’s safety, especially with face-to-face classes resuming in several areas.

CHR Executive Director Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement on Monday that the incidents involving girls, among which are the deaths of a 15-year-old biker in Bulacan and a seven-year-old child in Pila, Laguna, highlight the vulnerability experienced by children.

De Guia said that the government too must be alarmed and act to solve the cases and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

“These incidents further highlight the vulnerabilities faced by children. Children have the right to a safe and empowering environment so they may eventually live [productive lives],” De Guia said.

“Crimes such as these further compound the challenges faced, particularly of girl children, during their formative years and should alarm the government to act on these concerns, alongside issues of gender equality, exclusion, and lack of access to opportunities for education and empowerment. s students go back to face-to-face classes again, there is a need to ensure their safety and security as well so that similar incidents won’t happen elsewhere,” she added.

CHR’s teams in the respective regions are already investigating the incidents, De Guia assured the public.

“CHR extends its condolences to the families of the two children. t the same time, CHR’s regional offices in Region III and IV-A are already doing motu propio investigations to help seek justice and accountability from the perpetrators of these human rights violations,” she noted.

“We note that, based on police updates, the suspect for the killing of the 15-year-old girl in Bulacan has been arrested in Camarines Sur on Friday, 19 August 2022. e look forward to the resolution of these cases consistent with relevant laws protecting the rights of girl children and women, such as the Magna Carta of Women,” she added.

The 15-year-old victim CHR was referring to was biker Princess Dumantay, from San Jose del Monte, who went missing in early August and was found dead last August 12. lice said that the victim, whose body bore cigarette burns, was raped before she was killed.

READ: Suspect in rape-slay of teenaged biker arrested in Camarines Sur 

Before Dumantay and the seven-year-old girl’s case, there have been reports of individuals going missing and violent attacks raising concerns over social media pages. J t this Sunday, three individuals were killed in Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, by what is believed to be a male gunman.

READ: 3 shot dead in Taguig City 

There were also missing person cases in Bulacan in the past months. For example, last July 6, a 24-year-old woman identified as Princess Diane Dayor of Guiginto was found lifeless.

READ: Missing woman in Bulacan found dead 

Most public schools in the country started face-to-face classes again, over two years since schools reverted to distance learning methods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Department of Education, at least 46 percent of public and private schools are ready to conduct face-to-face classes, with the rest still resorting to blended learning schemes.

This means 24,175 out of the 54,900 campuses nationwide would go on face-to-face classes. Just earlier, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said they believe that the school opening went well after they have not yet received any complaints as of 9:20 a.m.

READ: DepEd touts hitch-free opening of classes 

JPV/abc