Youngest rape victim in Kalinga is 11 years old; oldest suspect is 71 – 2025 WCPD data

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Tabuk City recorded the highest number of rape cases in Kalinga, accounting for 20 of the 25 total incidents, largely due to its larger population and higher reporting rates, according to data from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD)–Kalinga.

The data showed that most victims are minors, with 14 cases recorded in Tabuk alone, underscoring that children remain the primary targets of sexual predators. The city also logged the youngest victim, an 11-year-old.

In an interview with TIP Desk PNCO Rene Joy Saggot and Police Executive Master Sergeant Regina Buyagan, they said that rape cases this year mostly involved strangers as offenders, highlighting the need for parents to exercise closer supervision over their children and to teach them not to easily trust strangers.

Based on the data, Rizal recorded two cases, Pasil had one, and Pinukpuk logged two cases. Moreover, the data revealed that the oldest suspect is 71 years old, while the youngest suspect is 16. Notably, 14 of the suspects belong to the 20–30 age group, indicating that most alleged offenders are young adults.

Furthermore, most incidents occurred between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.—periods when parents are often away from home.

Meanwhile, WCPD-Kalinga reported a 16.6 percent decrease in the total number of rape cases in the province in 2025 compared to the previous year. The data showed that 25 cases were logged in 2025, down from 30 cases recorded from January to December 2024.

In a separate interview, Police Captain Ruffy Manganip of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (KPPO) encouraged victims to report abuses immediately to allow police to lawfully arrest perpetrators without a warrant.

“Mayat koma nu saan nga mabayagan santo maireport diay napasamak iti biktima tapno maarestar nga dagos diay suspect. Adda gamin diay hot pursuit arrest. No naireport nga dagos, mabalin nga apan arestaren diay suspect. Ngem nu late reporting, masapulen nga ag-secure tayo ti warrant of arrest from the RTC,” Manganip explained.

The KPPO information officer added that cases sometimes drag on because abuse is reported late, making investigations more complex and giving suspects more time to escape or go into hiding.