Death, unexplained disappearances of adolescent women in Baguio City

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

(We give way to this letter of Innabuyog-Cordillera, a nongovernment organization espousing women’s and children rights.Related story in page 10.)

In the recent three months, Baguio City was horrified as news of missing adolescent women plagued the city, sending concerning signals to the peace and order of the community of Baguio City. Moreover, the Baguio City Police Office recently revealed that since January of this year, 56 girls have been reportedly missing.

According to reports, two of the three teenagers who were missing around July to September were found dead. Authorities claim the cases as “isolated cases”, meaning these are not related.

The Innabuyog-Gabriela condemns the crimes that haunt the young women of Baguio City. As a center of women’s rights and welfare, Innabuyog-Gabriela, we are alarmed of the rising rate of crimes that seem to be victimizing young women.

Their disappearances and tragic deaths in such a young age are appalling. The rape and the eventual death of the 16-year old student is even more horrifying. It is a blow to the respect for the right and dignity of the young lady. This is the manifestation of the rising rate of violence against women and children in the city.

We call on the speedy action of the local government officials and law enforcers to resolve the death and rape of the two adolescent women and the unexplained disappearance of the other girls. Whether or not they are connected crimes or serial killings or gangster-related crimes, it is important to have the suspect in custody of the authority immediately.

Let us not wait for another cold body of a daughter of Baguio City found dead on the streets. We urge the Philippine National Police-Women’s desk-Cordillera to look further into the case so that we know what the citizens of Baguio are fighting against. We further demand the LGU and the police to enforce a safe community of Baguio.

The city must live up to its premise as a “Character City”. The beauty of the city does not start and end with the colorful parks and streets and the grand parades. The safety and security of Baguio City are equally sources of prestige for Baguio. The intensifying crime rate on women in Baguio City brings shame and alarm.

The Innabuyog-Gabriela calls on the citizens of Baguio to actively participate in the fight opposing violence against women and children. We must be vigilant to anomalous actions. We are all watchdogs of our community. We are all safe keepers of our children. VAWC cannot be defeated without the unity of the community.

These victims, including the other 50 plus girls from Baguio who are missing are indicators of a larger problem. It is not just a random crime against a person. This is a verification of how the society still treats women as subordinates. Equally important, VAWC will never be eliminated as long as Filipino women are treated as submissive, passive people.

The elimination of VAWC in the Philippines relies on the determination to change the current conception structuring the Philippine culture. We are raised with the indoctrination that women are weak beings, incapable of standing on her own and making her own decisions as she is supposed to be dependent on a male figure.

At the same time, this is a culture where women are perceived to be commodities in the society. Evident in the trimedia and the society, women are treated as objects of desire and lust. The two existing perception on women in the Philippine culture make the Filipino women exposed and vulnerable to violence, harassments and abuse.

As we move on to solve the problems on VAWC, we must also take the necessary steps to educate ourselves and our neighbors about the rights and welfare, as well as the dignity of a woman that should be respected by all.

Violence against women is not just a concern of women, it is the concern of the community. Justice for the victims of violence against women and children!