This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 12, April 30-May 6, 2006
Rape Victims Viewed as
“Dirty Women”
Women rape victims are victims twice over, by the rapists and by society’s
judgment. For a victim
of gang rape or multiple rape, the sense of helplessness, rage and shame is
amplified. BY
GUIA ABAD “Maruming babae
(Dirty woman). This sadly remains the
dominant perception of Filipinos on rape victims, said Obet Montes , coordinator
for services of the women’s group Gabriela, and a counselor for battered women,
rape victims and other victims of violence against women. In a conservative society
like the Philippines where a woman’s chastity is upheld as a virtue, the shame
of being raped cuts deep. The same attitude lays blame on the victim, labeling
the woman as “a flirt” who caused the act, wittingly or unwittingly, through
various signals of enticement or invitation. The woman is victimized
twice over, by the act of rape and by society’s judgment against her. The trauma, shock,
emotional and psychological effects suffered by the victim is immeasurable,
Montes said. For most victims of rape, it takes years before the healing process
begins. Some recover some semblance of their well-being before the rape. Some
still carry the trauma, their self-image shattered. For many, the incident is
never mentally erased and their lives are put on hold, Montes said. These
women never move forward, affecting their relationships with family and mostly
towards men. For a victim of gang rape
or multiple rape, this sense of helplessness, rage and shame is amplified. The
victim suffers emotional and mental setbacks. Worse, in many cases, the
suspects continue to threaten the victim. Gang rape in the
Philippines There are no statistics on
gang rape cases in the Philippines. The lack of numbers, however, do not mean
the absence of the crime. Victims refuse to step forward for fear of being a
social outcast. The police have no accurate picture on the incidence of gang
rapes. The first media recorded
case of gang rape was in the early 1960s when an actress accused the scion of a
wealthy Manila family of abduction and gang rape. Statuesque mestiza
movie actress Maggie de la Riva was fodder for media hype when she testified
against the possé of Jaime Jose, a popular music band leader. Jose and his friends were
found guilty and sentenced to death by regional trial court Judge Lourdes San
Diego. Jose died on the electric chair, as attempts to seek a reprieve were
rejected by authorities. Montes narrated the case of
a 16-year old girl who was raped by a church pastor who was her suitor. Her
family filed a case against the pastor. After the case was filed, the accused
abducted the victim in her school and held her hostage for several months.
While in captivity, the
pastor, his father and lawyer took turns raping the girl. The court dismissed
charges of gang rape but the rape case filed in 1996 is still on-going. The case of Evelyn Nalam of
Butuan City received special media attention. In 1992, she accused her
neighbors Roberto Salazar and Domingo Pampaguitan of rape. The accused were
charged with rape and eventually sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in jail. Silence Most victims of gang rape
remain silent for months before reporting the crime. Montes said this is due to
the victim’s fear of society’s judgment, of not wanting to be branded as “maduming
babae”. A rape victim becomes so
afraid that she is going to be blamed for the crime, that she denies that she
was violated, Montes said. Padilla said that a rape
victim who keeps silent becomes easy prey for continued abuse, said Padilla.
She prosecuted the case of a 19-year old who had the mental capacity of a
six-year old. The victim was repeatedly raped by a gang in Marikina City until
the victim became pregnant. It was after the victim bore the child that her
family filed the case against the gang. Mob mentality Padilla attributes “mob
mentality” as an element why gang rape happens. When a person is part of a
group, he conforms to the actions of other members of the group, she said. When
some members of a group decides to rape a woman, even those who at first did not
want to, end up doing so because they are part of the gang. When the “mob” rules,
personal convictions weaken and individuals tend to “go with the flow.” Subic rape a case of
gang rape Gang rape is classified as
rape done by two or more people. The Revised Penal Code provides that rape
committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons is
punishable by reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment or 40 years
imprisonment) to death. A suspect may be charged
guilty of rape even without penetration. The accused could have held her down
or acted as lookout while the crime is being committed. Lawyer Claire Padilla, an
advocate of women’s rights, said that the rape of a Filipina by four American
servicemen in November 2005 is classified as a gang rape. She said that the
people in the van were aware that a crime was happening and yet did nothing to
stop it, making them part of the “gang”. The driver could also be
charged as an accessory to the rape that occurred. Victorious Montes said that those who
survive gang rapes may initially seem broken, being traumatized and derailed
from pursuing their plans in life. But as they undergo counseling, they slowly
recover. Those who eventually do, come out as stronger women. They are aware of the
difficulties of other women victims, Montes said. Some publicly share their
experience, in the hope that other victims would break their silence and find
the courage to report their case. They serve as an inspiration to others, a
source of strength to those who have not found their voice. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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