GBV CASE IN CORDILLERA AUTONOMOUS REGION (CAR)
The victim, an 11 years of age young girl was raped by her adoptive father in
a place somewhere in the North. Reported by the victim’s cousin, the victim was
jointly adopted by the perpetrator and his late wife when the former was about seven
(7) or eight (8) years old.
When the perpetrator’s wife died sometime in 2018, he started raping the
victim who at the time was only 10 years of age. The said crime was discovered by
the family of the victim’s cousin when they noticed a hickey in the victim’s neck. After
discovering which, the said family brought the victim to the hospital for a medico
legal examination. Results of the medico legal showed that there was indeed a
penetration in the female genitalia of the victim. She later on confessed and was
video recorded that her adoptive father used his genitalia in hers.
While the victim was undergoing the said medico legal examination, the
perpetrator absconded to his province with his brothers. To date, the victim is under
the custody of her biological mother who in turn is the niece of the perpetrator.
The family of the victim’s cousin did not want to report the crime committed
against the victim because they fear for the perpetrator’s retaliation and a possible
harassment in case the imputation against him has once revealed.
Upon receipt of the report in the Online portal, the Commission on Human
Rights referred the case for investigation by the appropriate region.