PCW on ‘Ang Probinsyano’ rape scene: ‘Rape is not a laughing matter’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has reminded that rape is a crime and not a laughing matter after the “Ang Probinsyano” television drama series aired an episode showing two female police officers being raped by criminals.

“Rape is a heinous crime and is considered as a crime against persons,” PCW said in a statement on their official website.

“The fact that netizens find it repulsive to watch the rape of a female police officer in the television series ‘Ang Probinsyano…’ indicate that Filipinos share our view that rape is a serious attack on human dignity and is not a laughing matter,” the commission added.

Netizens condemned the July 15 episode of ABS-CBN’s “Ang Probinsyano” where two policewomen in uniform were being raped by members of a criminal syndicate led by actor Baron Geisler.

READ: Netizens slam ‘Ang Probinsyano’ for rape scene of female cops

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The Commission said the incident could serve as an eye-opener to dismiss myths about rape.

“But we can take this particular incident as an eye-opener to bust several myths surrounding rape – the victim is an educated woman and regarded as a person in authority; she is neither wearing a skimpy outfit nor acting flirtatiously to provoke the attacker; she is not having a drinking spree with the perpetrator,” PCW said.

PCW stressed that the woman’s body, appearance or clothes are not “invitations for rape or any form of sexual violence.”  /muf