Press Release
September 7, 2019

De Lima denounces rape-slay of 4-year-old girl in Davao

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has condemned in the strongest sense the brutal rape-slay of a four-year-old daycare pupil whose frail body was left in a fishpond in Davao City last Aug. 31.

De Lima, a known human rights defender here and abroad, said the inhumane incident calls for a thorough probe by police authorities to give justice to the victim and her families and send a strong message that their crimes will never be left unpunished.

"The alleged rape-slay of another innocent young soul is extremely appalling. Malinaw na pahiwatig ito sa patuloy na panganib sa ating mga kababayan, kabilang ang mga kabataan, sa kabila ng ipinagmamalaking mahusay na peace and order," she said.

"This kind of atrocity makes it imperative for the government to exert all efforts necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice as it should also remind them to finally stop promoting the culture of killings that give the bad guys the license to commit crime without fear of accountability," she added.

Last Aug. 31, the body of the four-year-old girl identified as Wendy Man-ologan was reportedly found by her neighbor floating in a fishpond in Sitio Mangani, Brgy. Tapak, Paquibato District, Davao City.

According to police authorities, Man-ologan's parents realized that their child was missing at around 1 AM on Aug. 31, prompting them to seek their neighbors' help to search for the kid.

While Man-ologan's neighbor initially suspected that she drowned, initial police investigation found possibilities of rape because she has wounds in her mouth and that there were changes in the appearance of her body parts.

"Isa lamang si Wendy sa libu-libong biktima ng karahasan at walang habas na patayan sa bansa. Nakakabahala dahil lagi tayong mapapaisip, sino na lang ba ang ligtas sa panahon ngayon?" De Lima asked.

The lady Senator from Bicol said Man-ologan's tragic death should remind the Filipino public to continue standing up for and protecting human rights and morality in our society.

"Huwag nating hayaan na maging normal na lamang ang ganitong patayan at higit sa lahat, at higit sa lahat ay huwag tayong pumayag na ang mga namatay ay ituturing nalang na parte ng kasaysayan na kabilang sa listahan ng mga napatay sa bansa," she said.

"Let's demand accountability for all these killings. Huwag tayong mapagod manawagan sa mga awtoridad na gawin ang lahat para mapanagot at maparusahan ang nasa likod ng mga krimen tulad ng ganito," she added.

Despite her continued unjust detention over bogus drug charges, De Lima has tirelessly called out the murderous policies of the Duterte administration that resulted in the death of innocent children and students, among others.

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