The militant women's coalition, Gabriela, cries foul over Malacañang's treatment of the controversial case involving deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson and his former live-in partner Che Tiongson who accused him of physical and verbal abuse.
In an exclusive phone interview late afternoon yesterday, September 10, Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Masa told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that the President should not ignore the issue; she must take action.
"Unang premise nila mali. Unang statement nila domestic problem, hindi lang siya domestic problem," the solon said.
Last Monday (Sept. 7), Lorelei Fajardo, deputy Presidential Spokesperson, said in a statement that the highest office in the land should not be dragged into what Malacañang tagged as a "domestic problem."
Fajardo added that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was outraged over what happened, adding that they will ask Singson to take a voluntary leave of absence "out of delicadeza." Singson, a close ally of the President, has since refused to comply.
In another phone interview with PEP yesterday afternoon, Fajardo said there isn't even an administrative case filed against Singson, because the incident happened outside his Cabinet job. But they are awaiting the findings of an investigation being conducted by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Singson's immediate superior, before deciding the actions to take.
"Gonzales is conducting an ongoing investigation," Fajardo said. "It is his [Singson] personal problem as far as the President is concerned. Kaya lang namin siyang pagsabihan."
STATE DUTY. Rep. Liza Masa believes, however, that the President should have imposed sanction.
She explained that Republic Act 9710 or Magna Carta of Women, signed into law by the President last August 14, 2009 states that it is the State's duty to ensure that the rights of women are upheld.
Section 5 of the new law, HB 4273, reads: The State shall ensure that all women shall be protected from all forms of violence as provided for in existing laws. Agencies of government shall give priority to the defense and protection to women against gender-based offenses and help women attain justice and healing. Towards this end, measures to prosecute and reform offenders shall likewise be pursued.
This means, Rep. Masa said, that Arroyo should have taken action beyond mere advice.
Rep. Masa added that Singson cannot use as defense Article 247 (Death or physical injuries inflicted under exceptional circumstances) of the Revised Penal Code because it does not directly apply to his case.
The Article states: Any legally married person who having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person... if he shall inflict upon them physical injuries of any other kind, he shall be exempt from punishment.
"Not true, kasi yung sinasabi ng provision na yun, puwede siya [Singson] na i-absuwelto kung married sila. E, hindi sila married!" Masa argued.
The solon also deplored columnist Ramon Tulfo's statement that Singson's actions should be interpreted in terms of today's "macho society," which accepts philandering men, and frowns upon women doing the same thing.
Isn't this so much backwards? If this doesn't change in the Philippines, respect for all women and all people will not happen in the county. Respect will only be for 'select' people.
ang pang-apat na rason, ang pang-apat na grupo who supports Chavit's beating of Che, are those who think, siding with Che against the beatings she received from her intimate partner, is tantamount to supporting women who have affairs with married men.
Magkaibang isyu po, ang pambubogbog ng isang lalaki, sa isyung pakikipag-relasyon ni babae sa mga lalaking may asawa. Call the law, a hypocrite, but you beat up someone, you pay for it.
Although sa batas ng Pilipinas, binibigyan justification ang LEGAL na asawa na bugbugin, ng walang kaparusahan ang nahuling LEGAL SPOUSE na nangangaliwa, kung mahuli IN THE ACT of having SEKSSSSWAL in-ter-course, sa kasong Che at Chavit, hindi sila LEGALLY MARRIED to each other. Walang libreng bugbog si Chavit on Che, kahit na mahuli pa niyang IN THE ACT OF WHOOPEE sina Richard at Che. Although we know, having dinner is notn the same as IN THE ACT OF HAVING SEKSSSS.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262
Anti-Violence Act against Women and Children Act
Promulgated March 8, 2004
defining WOMEN's VIOLENCE - as the acts against women, wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had sssexxx+ual relationship with xxx
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE - bodily harm
PEP, are you against informing the people in the Philippines, na meron nang bataas, laban sa pananakit sa mga kababaihan? O automatically deleted lang ang post kung may katagang ssseeeexxxx ? BEACHBUM, para sa iyo ang post na iyan, to educate yourself naman. Meron na pong batas, na nagbabawal na bugbugin ang mga kababaihan sa Pilipinas.
Revised Penal Code of the Phil.'s
Article 247, DEATH OR PHYSICAL INJURIES INFLICTED UNDER EXTREME CIRCUMESTANCES - Any LEGALLY MARRIED PERSON who having suprised his spouse IN THE ACT OF COMMITTING s-exual int=ercourse with another person, shall kill any of them or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them serious physical injury shall suffer the penalty of destierro. If he shall inflict upon them physical injuries of any other kind, he shall be exempt from punishment.
Is Chavit LEGALLY MARRIED to Che Tiongson? This article, does not apply to Chavit because he is LEGALLY MARRIED TO EVELYN Versoza Singson. Was
Che Tiongson and Richard Catral caught in the act of s-e-x-ual in-tercourse ? Bakit pinahubaran pa ni Chavit sa bodyguards niya si Richard kung ganoon? Che and Richard having S-e-xxxx fully clothed?
he may have power here on earth. but when it comes to judgement day, the Man above will decided his fate.
people of the Philippines should vote for the right reason. they shouldn't be blinded by blood money.
politicians like chavit should never be voted into power. votes are just wasted on an individual who is unjust, corrupted, unethical and immoral.
this is the reason why some people frown upon Philippine politics and law. those in power feel that they can do as they please. use every connection they have, just so that justice wouldn't be served to them. they aren't invincible. they are human just like everyone else.
it is ashamed that the president of the Philippines is a woman and yet she has nothing to say about womens rights. especially when a colleague of hers has done wrong. give him advice is all they can do? that's just stupidity and their crab mentality because of he is a man power. that is still not a valid reason for justice not being served to this unjust individual.
he may have power here on earth. but when it comes to judgement day, t
brad_peet
September 11, 2009
09:41 AM
i agree completely! but which courageous---and/or foolhardy---politician is willing to stick his/her neck out and author a divorce bill? magwawala ang pope, ang archbishops, and all the rest of the celibate leaders who will never navigate the sometimes stormy waters of marriage. dead in the water kaagad ang political career.
catholicism is ruining many abused spouses' lives by imperiously denying them a second chance at happiness. doon na lang daw sila sa langit kukuha ng reward sa pagtitiis nila. what's laughable is yung palusot alternative na annulment---available only to the rich!!!
If somebody cheats you, just dump person and move on. Spare yourself from any unnecessary anxiety.