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BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Friday, March 10, 2017
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ILOILO City – Women, most especially those on night shift, are exposed to many dangers. They must be alert all the time, according to the Iloilo City Police Office’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD).
On Monday night, two call center agents – one a woman – were abducted at the parking lot of a mall in Mandurriao district. The woman was raped but managed to escape from her captors and sought help.
It is important for women to have presence of mind most especially when in dangerous situations, said Senior Inspector Marie Faith Superio of the city police’s WCPD.
Presence of mind is the ability to remain calm, make good decisions and act quickly in a difficult situation, explained Superio.
“It is better to have many companions when going home late at night or when reporting to work on night shift,” she stressed.
Women must also know how to use personal belongings as weapons for self-defense, the police officer added.
A canister or bottle of perfume may be sprayed in the eyes of an attacker, said Superio.
Comb may be used to hurt an attacker, too, she added.
Even shoes can be used as weapon, most especially stilettos, said Superio.
Stilettos are women’s shoes with thin, high tapering heels.
Superio said women can kick and hurt their attackers with their high-heeled shoes.
Hurting the attacker and halting him even if momentarily only gives the woman time to escape and seek help, said the police officer.
Superio also encouraged crime victims, especially women, to file charges against their attackers and be courageous in speaking about the atrocities they were subjected to.
On Wednesday, a string of criminal complaints were filed against the three men who abducted the two call center agents at the parking area of the Mandurriao mall.
Charges of carnapping with serious illegal detention, grave threats and rape by sexual assault were slapped against 22-year-old Sirius Jim Villareal of Barangay 7, Tigbauan, Iloilo and Reymund Cordero, 22 of Barangay Amamaros, Pototan, Iloilo.
The other suspect, Robert Tingson of Barangay Amamaros, Pototan, was charged with carnapping with serious illegal detention and grave threats.
All the complaints were filed at the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office under Ma. Elena Hofileña-Gerochi.
Villareal was also charged before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, specifically illegal gun possession.
A 12-gauge shotgun was recovered from Villareal when he was arrested in Barangay Puerto Princesa, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
The abduction happened just blocks away from the Iloilo Convention Center, venue of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from March 6 to 9, 2017./PN
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