The Police Regional Office (PRO 11) assured on Wednesday that the province of Davao del Sur remains peaceful and assured that the peace and order situation in the province is still under control despite the latest crime incidents.
Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of PRO 11, told media that there were only three incidents of robbery wherein one incident was associated with rape were recorded in Davao del Sur on March 24, 30, and 31, 2023.
On March 24, 2023, a 25-year-old rice trader in Magsaysay town, Davao del Sur was robbed and raped. Based on the reports, the victim was walking along a riverbank at around 11 a.m. after a collection round when she was attacked by assailants.
Police identified and arrested the perpetrators. They are Rosemarie Himpayan, 42, her live-in partner Barie Lonzaga, 24, and her son Rodolfo Dabon Jr., who is in his early 20s. A fourth suspect, Joel Dabon, who was also a son of Rosemarie, was killed after allegedly fighting off with the police.
The three arrested suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Digos City last March 27, for alleged robbery with rape, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Gultiano said what causes fear among the residents is a social media post branding these incidents as a “series of crimes.”
“Hindi pa ma-confirm na it’s a series of crimes kasi sa ngayon mino-monitor ang social media na posting kung validated ba yung series of crimes na posted. I think na hype ang Davao del Sur because of social media postings that is why it is being mandated that the regional affairs development unit to check posts in social media kung totoo ba yung nangyari. Kasi talagang ma-alarma ka base on social media posting when in fact based sa aming record there were only three robbery incidents for the month of March,” she said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media forum on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Gultiano called on the public to ensure that the information is verified, specially on crimes that will be posted online. She also said that it is better to report them to the police first to avoid causing fear and alarm among the public.
