New law for battered Pinoy husbands needed?

“Paano ako? Saan ako pupunta?” asked Karlo, a self-confessed battered husband who was referring to his well-being, during a Skype interview with Claire Delfin aired on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” last Thursday. 

 

“Halimbawa, na-late lang ako  ng uwi. . .mumurahin ka, ipapahiya ka kahit nasa public. Sampal, kalmot, saksak ng ballpen at umabot sa kutsilyo na ang gamit niya, nakailag lang ako,” Karlo disclosed.

 

“Minsan pumasok ako sa office kita yung mga kalmot, kagat, at ‘yung mga pasa so during our three-year marriage, bayolente nga talaga [siya],” he added.

 

Karlo thought his nightmare was over after their separation. However, his former wife sued him for alleged abuse citing violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act. And his ex-wife won. 

 

Result? Karlo was jailed for two days.

 

Battered women are still the norm in the country's predominantly macho society, albeit Karlo’s experience isn't an isolated incident. Which is why family lawyer Atty. Voltaire Duano has been lobbying for a new law for battered husbands to be inked.

 

“I don’t see any reason that there is a substantial distinction between a wife or husband, male or female. They should be equally treated in terms of protection in law,” he noted.

 

Professor Yolanda Ealmada, head of University of the Philippines-Diliman’s Gender Office, however claimed that there is no need for a law to protect battered husbands, as there are other laws that can be used in its stead.

 

“Sa tingin ko hindi na kailangan ng special na batas para sa mga lalaki kasi actually ang mga batas natin ang standard ay panlalaki. . .Pwede naman siyang magreklamo batay sa ating Revised Penal Code kasi mayroon naman doong kaso na slight physical injury, grave physical injury,” she explained.

 

Should a new law be inked? Will this new law be enough to protect the abused or will the same "culture of silence" that afflicts battered women breach beyond the double standard? 

 

It all depends on those abused male spouses coming out and being “man enough” to share their experience, and fight for their rights, Claire Delfin reported. – KDM, GMA News