BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – One ended her life apparently by slicing her wrists; the other stirred the city up by concocting tales of abduction and rape.
The common thread tying up the two different cases is family.
Last week, Thursday 18 August 2022, a 23-year-old woman stirred up the city with a story of abduction and rape. Details of her story were seemingly lifted from formulaic thriller film: she was snatched, drugged, then repeatedly gang-raped before she managed to escape her tormentors. (READ also: A harrowing story: Police probes reported daylight abduction, repeated rape of woman, 23)
She sent police on a wild goose chase against the suspects not just in Bacolod but also in the neighboring city, only to end in a retraction later on
There was no abduction, no rape.
The story was made up according to the woman to get the attention of her family.
Two days later, the body of an 18-year-old woman was found in a commercial complex here.
Her right wrist bore apparently self-inflicted wounds.
Police said there was no indication of foul play.
The reason for the apparent suicide: family pressure.
Which opens up the discussion anew of how important family is to one’s mental state and health.
