MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) of the Philippines reported a 94% success rate in solving rape cases filed in court in the past year, a significant achievement highlighted during the 2025 budget deliberation of the DOJ and its attached agencies. This high conviction rate pertains to the 21,423 rape cases handled, drawing commendation from senators.
According to Philippines News Agency, the key to this success has been the Training and Education Program for Law Enforcement Officers (Tepleo), which has fostered close collaboration between prosecutors and law enforcement officers. This initiative ensures the evidence collected is sufficient and appropriate for securing convictions under stringent legal standards. Andres emphasized the enhanced teamwork in evidence gathering and case building as fundamental to these outcomes.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed his support for increasing the DOJ’s budget for Tepleo, citing the program’s effectiveness in tightening the prosecutorial process. “From the very start, I was really concerned with this. If we need to increase the budget for trainings between the prosecution and the law enforcement agencies that will make our prosecution more efficient,” Ejercito remarked during the deliberations. The DOJ’s proposed budget for the next year is PHP40.58 billion, up by PHP1.11 billion from this year.
However, amidst these successes, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the urgent need for a consolidated effort against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), particularly concerning incestuous rape. Citing data from a partner NGO, Remulla described the situation as reaching “epidemic proportions” with over 500,000 estimated cases, including those unreported due to societal silence.
Remulla highlighted the prevalence of potential child pornography hubs even in remote areas of the country, indicated by unusual setups like satellite dishes and money remittance centers without corresponding local industry. He called for a whole-of-government approach to tackle this grave issue, involving various agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Supreme Court to intensify efforts and collaboration to address these severe challenges effectively.