Boys Sexually Abused, Too

Boys Sexually Abused, Too
Francis B. Bermido Jr.

Child sexual abuse is more common than you think. Conducted in 2015, the first ever National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC) in the Philippines revealed that 80 percent of children and youth experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, whether in the home, school, workplace or community, with boys at 81.5 percent and girls at 78.4 percent. It has also revealed that one in five children below age 18 have experienced sexual violence while growing up. They are most likely abused by their brothers, cousins, fathers or live-in partners of their mothers. So, if you are a teacher of a class of 50 students, you can presume that 40 of your students have experienced some form of violence and that 10 of them are victims of sexual abuse.

However, most of these victims will not report what happened to them or ask for help, causing life-long negative consequences. Boys are more likely to keep to themselves what happened to them. According to the Cenetr for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA), “cultural definitions of the roles, expectations and assumptions of males “can increase their exposure and vulnerability to abuse, and which makes them far less likely than girls to report abuse or ask for help and support when abused.” It is thus very important to be always ready to listen and receptive to reports of abuse and to know what needs to be done.

Michael, now 16 years old, was only 10 years old when Romy Layug, live-in partner of his grandmother, started sexually abusing him. Originally from Tondo, Manila, his parents separated and none of them wanted to take care of him so he was left wandering on the streets until his grandmother took his custody and brought him to Subic, Zambales. There, he lived with his grandmother and her live-in partner who physically and sexually abused him repeatedly. Michael did not tell anyone about his ordeal for many years because Romy Layug threatened to hurt and kill him if he told anyone.

The pandemic only worsened Michael’s problems. School was closed so he did not have a reason to leave the house. The barbershop where Romy Layug worked closed and his grandmother found work as a stay-in househelper so Michael was left alone with Romy Layug most days of the week. The abuse became more frequent.

On 2 August 2021, Michael got the courage to report what Romy Layug was doing to him when he saw a village worker near his house. The village worker immediately alerted the police and together with a social worker they rescued Michael. In the police station, Michael told everything that Romy Layug did to him. Romy Layug was charged with four counts of lascivious conduct, arrested and jailed.

The local social worker then referred Michael to the Preda Home for Boys where he received a warm welcome from trained staff and other boys. He continued his remote studies and joined many different activities. He particularly liked the vocational skills training like driving and welding. He learned how to drive motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles. Preda helped him apply for a driver’s license, which he successfully got from the Land Transportation Office.

The emotional release therapy that he received prepared Michael for his time on the witness stand where he recounted how Romy Layug abused him. Last September 20, 2021 Judge Gemma Theresa Hilario-Logronio found Romy Layug guilty of four counts of lascivious conduct and sentenced him to a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 17 years, four months and one day of imprisonment for each four counts.

Meanwhile, Michael is now reintegrated with his grandmother and he is continuing his studies with support from Preda Foundation.

www.preda.org