The Bohol Provincial Council on the Protection of Children (PCPC) on Wednesday expressed alarm over 54 rape cases involving youth victims aged under 18 in a span of 11 months.

Carmelita Tecson, provincial social welfare and development officer, said that 11 cases with minors as victims were reported in the first quarter, 23 in the second, 14 in the third and six so far in the fourth.

The cases were recorded starting January until November this year, Tecson said.

In the same period, 55 cases of incestuous rape, or commission of said crime against a family member, were recorded by the Women and Children’s Desk of the Bohol police.

The PCPC and the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence against Women and Children have intensified their information drive on gender-based violence and child abuse as response.

For its part, the provincial government has been offering aid to victimsof gender-based violence through the Bohol Crisis Intervention Center and Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center.

So far, 66 victims of gender-based violence have been assisted by the two institutions. (Rey Tutas)