SILENCED

by Alluringli 

UNEXISTING

Even a hundred band aid would not bindeth up any wound right away— even thousands or millions, it just would not. Rage and empathy were the emotions circulated among the citizens as they witnessed the horrifying story of sexually abused young girls in Maguindanao in Kara David’s documentary, “Kapalit ng Katahimikan,” it instantly became a hot topic on social media platforms.

It is not uncommon for us to encounter issues like this, to hear a story about several helpless young girls being sexually abused by men. We all know the ending, they would not get the justice they deserve. In David’s documentary, the rapist must marry the young girl who is said to be a mentally disabled, for the sake of saving the man’s face. 

Imagine how cruel it is to be tied forever with someone who caused you trauma, would you be able to trust them? If the tribe has this culture to protect one’s dignity, how could they not afford to give one’s justice. IT IS NOT FAIR. Who did the wrong doing and why is that the victim that needs to pay for their unreasonable acT. Ironic it is to save the man’s face but not the innocent young girl.

Similar cases remained and had been constantly neglected for so long. Justice would not prevail as long as you have no bags of money. In this situation, this problem had been added, the family of the young girl has nowhere to find a big pile of money to file a case for being raped. However, when this issue was attained in the government, they offered them a scholarship for the victim to continue her studies.

But is it enough?

The rapist was not sentenced because of the tribe’s culture. He just gave a horse and a six-thousand peso in exchange for silence. But where is the justice for the young girl?

I do not agree that justice exists in this patriarchal society. 

It would be a wound that would remain everlasting on the girl’s life and body. No such thing can heal it unless justice prevails.