INTENTIONAL INJURIES

14-year-old boy arrested for alleged rape of 13-year-old girl

By: Daphne Galvez - Reporter / @DYGalvezINQ
INQUIRER.net / 09:02 AM January 25, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — An out-of-school 14-year-old boy was arrested at the Port Area in Manila on
Thursday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl, Manila Police said Friday.

A report from the Manila Police District said the 14-year-old boy was arrested at around 5:15 p.m. on
Thursday at the Baseco Compound, Port Area, after the victim and her mother informed police of the
rape.

The mother, who went to the Baseco Police Community Precinct with her daughter, alleged that the
victim was raped last Monday, Jan. 21, at around 8 p.m. at the Baseco compound.

Police said the case will be referred to Manila Prosecutors Office for evaluation and proper disposition.

Supt. Igmeldio Bernaldez of the Ermita Police Station told INQUIRER.net that the boy is still being held at
the police station but will be later brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Manila, 11,558 women victims of physical and sexual violence in 2017 alone

by Santosh Digal
Citizens complain that local governments do not sufficiently protect abused women as required by law.
However, international surveys reveal that the Philippines has recently achieved excellent results in the
pursuit of gender equality. Through the Catholic Women's League (Cwl), the Church is engaged in
numerous initiatives for women's rights.


Manila (AsiaNews) - In 2017 alone, 11,558 Filipino women between the ages of 15 and 49 suffered
various forms of physical and sexual violence. According to a report by the government of Manila, drawn
up with the contribution of the national police and the Department of Statistics.

"Gender violence in the country is increasing and must end," Mary Jane Castro, a bank employee, told
AsiaNews. "Although Filipino women have progressed a great deal in many ways - she continues -
domestic violence is still rampant in places where they work, especially abroad". Castro, the mother of
three young children, argues that greater awareness on inclusion and gender equality should be
promoted in families and in the workplace.

Cases of domestic violence against women remain high, and many citizens complain that local
governments do not sufficiently protect abused women as required by law. Numerous civil society
groups, educational institutions and government agencies appeal to public opinion to end violence
against women and to uphold their rights and dignity.

However, international surveys reveal that the Philippines has recently achieved excellent results in the
pursuit of gender equality. According to the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, drafted by the World
Economic Forum (Wef), the country ranked 10th in gender equality. The Wef report estimates that it will
take another 200 years before gender equality is achieved globally, but in the Philippines the target
could be achieved faster. Filipino women were among the first to exercise their right to vote. The data
show that, although more and more women obtain a university degree compared to men, fewer of
them become part of the workforce. Many women continue to risk physical and sexual abuse by
working as domestic helpers abroad.

Through the Catholic Women's League (Cwl), the Church is engaged in numerous women's rights
initiatives, in collaboration with the National Women's Council of the Philippines (Ncwp). The Cwl is
active throughout the country and operates in 86 archdioceses, dioceses, prelatures and apostolic
vicariates. The association also collaborates with the Women's Office of the Episcopal Conference
(CBCP), the Commission of Filipino Women (PCW) and other groups to protect women in the country.




2 students commit suicide over failing grades
Arnell Ozaeta (The Philippine Star) - April 8, 2013 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Barely three weeks after a student of the University of the Philippines-Manila took
her life over failure to pay tuition, two students in Batangas shot themselves dead after receiving failing
grades in separate incidents Friday afternoon.

Daveson Beron, 22, a mechanical engineering student at Batangas State University, and Don Benedict
Pamintuan, 17, a physical therapy freshman at the De La Salle-Dasmariñas in Cavite, used a caliber .38
revolver and a shotgun, respectively, in killing themselves, according to Batangas police director Senior
Superintendent Rosauro Acio.

Beron was found with a gunshot wound in the right temple by his mother Analiza at 12:30 p.m. inside
their house in Purok 3, Barangay Bolbok, Batangas City, while Pamintuan was found by his father at 4:15
p.m. inside their bathroom in J.P. Laurel Street, Barangay 2, Nasugbu.

Scene of the crime investigators found the caliber .38 revolver beside Beron’s body and a laptop with
a message written on its screen: “I’m sorry, I quit.â€

Police also found Beron’s cellphone with a message of apology to his parents and siblings for failing
to graduate this year. He also asked their forgiveness for having been a disappointment. He thanked
them for guiding him, promised he would be watching over them, and asked for prayers.

The family verified school records and was able to confirm that his name was not among the list of
graduating students.

Meanwhile, investigators said Pamintuan apparently aimed the shotgun under his chin and pulled the
trigger, sending splatters of blood and brain on the walls and ceiling.

The shotgun, owned by a security guard assigned to man the family hardware store, was stored in the
stockroom beside the victim’s room.

The family said Pamintuan could have been depressed when he found out that he got failing grades in
four subjects, and was to be transferred to the Batangas State University this coming school year.

No suicide note was found beside Pamintuan’s body.

Last March 15, Kristel Tejada, a behavioral science freshman from UP-Manila, drank silver cleaner inside
their home in Tondo, after school administrators told her to take a leave of absence from her studies for
failing to pay her tuition amounting to P10,000.

Kristel’s death sparked outrage among her fellow UP students and faculty members who demanded
to scrap the “no payment, no exam†policy of the institution. UP officials later gave in to their
demands.

Three days later, Lee Gunay, a high school sophomore at the St. Bridget College, also in Batangas, shot
himself with a caliber .45 pistol after he could no longer take the bullying by his classmates.


UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES

Food poisoning' downs 51 in Cebu

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 09 2018 05:26 AM | Updated as of Sep 02 2018 02:40 PM

Around 51 people were taken to hospitals in Cebu City on Wednesday due to suspected food poisoning.

The suspected food poisoning victims are students, parents, and teachers who are participating the
National Musabaqah Skills Exhibition at the Ecotech Center in Barangay Lahug.

Nagiel Bañacia, head of city disaster risk reduction and management office, said the victims suffered from
abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Dr. Juliet Jeruta, director of Department of Education (DepEd) 7, said the case is now under control.

"First time itong nangyari na dinala talaga sa hospital. Binigyan na sila ng prompt care, immediate
assistance, and of course, shouldering the bills," she said. - report from Donna Lavares, ABS-CBN news

Filipino couple died of cardiac arrest, drowning in Maldives, autopsy report bares
(philstar.com) - January 21, 2019 - 6:31pm

MANILA, Philippines — The autopsy report on the couple who died in the Maldives while on honeymoon
revealed that the causes of their deaths were cardiac arrest and drowning.

This was confirmed by the father of Leomer Lagradilla in a report by GMA-7’s “Balitanghali.”

According to the father of Leomer, his son died of cardiac arrest while his daughter-in-law, Erika, drowned
while saving her husband.

The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, which has the jurisdiction over the Maldives, initially reported to the
Department of Foreign Affairs that the couple drowned off Dhiffushi island while snorkeling.

The couple got married last December 18 and traveled to the Maldives for their honeymoon on January
11.

Erika, 29, and Leomer, 30, were both nurses based in Singapore and Riyadh, respectively.

The remains of the couple arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 1 onboard Etihad Airways
flight EY-424 at 3:26 p.m. on Saturday.

The bodies were then transported to Laguna on Saturday evening.

READ: Remains of Filipino couple who drowned in Maldives now in Laguna

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism shouldered the repatriation costs for the deceased couple but the DFA
and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration also gave assistance to the bereaved families.

Erika’s remains is now in her home in Sta. Cruz, Laguna for the wake but she will be brought to her
husband’s home in Lumban, Laguna on Wednesday. The interment is set in Lumban Memorial Cemetery
on January 26. — Rosette Adel

Woman dies in Pasig City car accident

By: Cathrine Gonzales - Reporter / @cgonzalesINQ
INQUIRER.net / 01:38 PM December 27, 2018

MANILA, Philippines — A 69-year-old woman died in a car accident along C5 Road in Barangay Ugong,
Pasig City on Thursday morning.

Police said the victim, Elsa Juanson, was crossing the road when she was accidentally hit by an Isuzu Elf
Truck. The driver was identified as Ariel Escodero, 18.

The victim was brought to the Rizal Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival, according to the
police.

Escodero is now under the custody of the Pasig City Police Station. /ee