Kara David’s ‘Kapalit ng Katahimikan’ breaks the silence of abuse victims

Trigger warning: This review contains mentions of rape and child abuse.

Kara David’s documentary Kapalit ng Katahimikan (In Exchange for Silence) for I-Witness quickly became a trending topic on social media after it aired. The documentary tells the harrowing stories of three young women who suffered sexual abuse in Maguindanao.

One case recounts a mentally disabled girl who was raped by her uncle. The tribal council recommended that the victim’s family be compensated. The uncle gave them a horse and P6,000. The girl was raped again, this time by a neighbor. After she became pregnant, the tribal council suggested she marry her rapist to “save face” for the family.

In another case, two young girls, aged 5 and 10, were abused by their uncle. While the tribal council also recommended a settlement, the family chose to take the case to mainstream courts, leading to the perpetrator’s imprisonment.

David is visibly dismayed by the way the tribal council handles such situations. While there is a need to respect cultural traditions, it is undeniable that a violation of someone’s dignity and rights remains a crime