A boat belonging to the
Philippine National Police
at the
Iloilo River
in
Iloilo City
Crime
is present in various forms in the
Philippines
, and remains a serious issue throughout the country.
Illegal drug trade
,
human trafficking
,
arms trafficking
,
murder
,
corruption
and
domestic violence
remain significant concerns.
Crime by type
[
edit
]
Murder
[
edit
]
In 2014, the Philippines had a murder rate of 9.84 per 100,000 people, with a number of 9,784 recorded cases. The country also has the highest rate of murder cases in Southeast Asia in 2013, with a rate of 8.8, followed by Thailand.
The murder rate in the Philippines reached its peak in 2002 and 2010, with rates of 8.1 (6,553 cases) and 9.5 (8,894 cases).
Organized crime
[
edit
]
Organized crime in the Philippines can be linked to certain families or barkadas (groups) who perpetrate crimes ranging from
extortion
, sale of illegal narcotics and
loan sharking
to
robbery
,
kidnapping
, and
murder-for-hire
.
[3]
[
better source needed
]
Illegal drug trade
[
edit
]
Illegal drug trade
is
a major concern
in the Philippines.
Meth
("shabu") and
marijuana
("weeds" or "damo"), are the most common drugs accounting most drug-related arrests. Most of the illegal drug trade involved members of large
Chinese
triad groups
operating in the Philippines, owing to its location on drug smuggling routes.
[
citation needed
]
Petty crime
[
edit
]
Petty crime, which includes pick-pocketing, is a problem in the Philippines. It takes place usually in locations with many people, ranging from shopping hubs to churches. Traveling alone to withdraw cash after dark is a risk, especially for foreigners.
[4]
[
better source needed
]
Rape
[
edit
]
Domestic violence
[
edit
]
Violence against women in the Philippines
includes different forms of
gender-based violence
. The term "
violence against women
" is "the word or concept (that) has been used in a broad, inclusive manner to encompass
verbal abuse
, intimidation, physical harassment,
homicide
,
sexual assault
, and
rape
."
[7]
This form of violence is gender-biased. Violence occurs precisely because of their gender, specifically because the victims are women.
According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey in the Philippines, one in every four (or 26%) ever-married women aged 15?49 had ever experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their husband or partner. Additionally, one in five (20%) women had reported ever experiencing emotional violence, 14% had ever experienced physical violence, and 5% had ever experienced sexual violence by their current or most recent husband or partner.
[8]
[9]
Human trafficking
[
edit
]
Human trafficking
and the
prostitution of children
is a significant issue in the Philippines, often controlled by organized crime syndicates.
[10]
Human trafficking in the country is a
crime against humanity
.
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
In an effort to deal with the problem, the Philippines passed Republic Act (R.A.) 9208, the
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
, a penal law against
human trafficking
,
sex tourism
,
sex slavery
and
child prostitution
.
[16]
Nevertheless, enforcement is reported to be inconsistent.
[17]
[
needs update
]
Prostitution
[
edit
]
Prostitution in the Philippines
is illegal. It is a serious crime with penalties ranging up to
life imprisonment
for those involved in
trafficking
. It is covered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
[16]
Prostitution
is still sometimes illegally available through
brothels
(also known as
casa
), bars,
karaoke bars
,
massage parlors
, street walkers and
escort services
.
[18]
As of 2009
[update]
, one source estimates that there are 800,000 women working as prostitutes in the Philippines, with some of them believed to be underage.
[18]
While victims are largely female, and according to the current Revised Penal Code, there are in fact a small minority of them who are male.
[19]
Corruption and police misconduct
[
edit
]
Corruption is a major problem in the Philippines. In 2013, during the country's elections, some 504 political candidates were accused mostly of corruption and some of violent crimes.
[20]
[21]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Kowalzki, Eugene (July 12, 2010).
"Filipino Gangs in the Philippines"
. Zimbio.
Archived
from the original on July 14, 2010.
- ^
"Crime in the Philippines"
. World Nomads. June 9, 2010.
Archived
from the original on January 19, 2013
. Retrieved
June 12,
2013
.
- ^
"Republic Act 8353: The Anti-Rape Law of 1997"
.
pcw.gov.ph
. 1997.
- ^
"Act No. 3815, s. 1930 (The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines)"
. 1930. Title Two: Penalties; Chapter Three: Duration and Effect of Penalties.
- ^
Dobash, R. Emerson. and Russell Dobash. Rethinking Violence against Women. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998. Print.
- ^
"One In Four Women Have Ever Experienced Spousal Violence (Preliminary results from the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey)"
.
psa.gov.ph
. March 26, 2018. Archived from
the original
on March 28, 2018
. Retrieved
August 15,
2020
.
- ^
"Table 1. Spousal violence by background characteristics"
(PDF)
.
Philippine Statistics Authority
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on November 18, 2019
. Retrieved
August 15,
2020
.
- ^
"
'Chairman' reveals seedy world of trafficking"
.
BBC News
. April 1, 2007.
Archived
from the original on October 16, 2007
. Retrieved
November 25,
2007
.
- ^
"What is Human Trafficking?"
.
Archived
from the original on November 1, 2019
. Retrieved
March 15,
2015
.
- ^
"Child Trafficking"
. Archived from
the original
on September 23, 2015
. Retrieved
June 12,
2013
.
- ^
"Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Articles 1 to 33)- Prevent Genocide International"
.
Archived
from the original on May 13, 2015
. Retrieved
March 15,
2015
.
- ^
Hansen, Scott.
"Japan's Fight against Modern-Day Slavery (Part I)"
. Archived from
the original
on March 8, 2013
. Retrieved
June 11,
2013
.
- ^
"Cebu a transit point for child trafficking ? INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos"
. Archived from
the original
on March 27, 2012
. Retrieved
March 15,
2015
.
- ^
a
b
RONALD ECHALAS DIAZ, Office Manager.
"REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9208 ? AN ACT TO INSTITUTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESTABLISHING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER"
.
Archived
from the original on March 30, 2019
. Retrieved
March 15,
2015
.
- ^
"Revealed: In Cities and Towns All Over the Philippines, Irishmen Pay to Have Sex with Children"
.
The Sunday Tribune
. Tribune Newspapers PLC. September 24, 2006. Archived from
the original
on October 12, 2007.
- ^
a
b
"Number of prostitutes in the Philippines"
. Havoscope. Archived from
the original
on September 27, 2013
. Retrieved
June 12,
2013
.
- ^
"Anti-Prostitution Bill"
. Philippine Commission on Women. Archived from
the original
on July 7, 2013
. Retrieved
June 12,
2013
.
- ^
"Sandiganbayan files: 256 poll winners have graft, crime cases; 17 convicted"
.
The Philippines Centre of Investigative Journalism
. June 10, 2013. Archived from
the original
on June 15, 2013
. Retrieved
June 12,
2013
.
- ^
Whaley, Floyd (August 29, 2013).
"Central Figure in Philippine Graft Case Surrenders"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
.
Archived
from the original on May 23, 2023
. Retrieved
June 15,
2023
.