The House Bill 1365 or "Domestic Violence Act of 2022" which seeks to protect Under De Saya husbands from their abusive wives was filed in the 19th Congress by Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles of the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list group. Nograles is a lawyer and the youngest daughter of the late former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
According to Nograles, the measure aims to amend the RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act by including “under de saya” husbands and members of the LGBTQ+ who are also victims of domestic abuse and maltreatment. In Nograles's explanatory note, she said, "It is the fervent hope of this proposed bill that seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9262 and include men and the LGBTQI+ community in its mandate and put an end to the discrimination and domestic abuse and attain a more inclusive society where all human beings are born free and equal."
"Under de saya" refers to henpecked husbands who also experience domestic violence. According to Nograles, a ‘partner,’ as it is plainly used, is gender-neutral. So it makes no discrimination. It includes intimate relationships of husband, men, heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and the like.
Nograles proposes the following changes to RA 9262's Section 2 (Declaration of Policy):
“It is hereby declared that the State values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women, PARTNERS, and children, from violence and threats to their personal safety and security,” the bill states.
“Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to address violence committed against women, PARTNERS, and children in keeping the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human rights instruments of which the Philippines is a party,” it added.
“Violence against women, PARTNERS, and their children” refers to any act or a series of acts committed by any person, their spouse, former spouse, PARTNER, FORMER PARTNER, or against any other person with whom they have or had a sexual or dating relationship, or who they have a common child, or against the other person’s child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” the bills states in amending Section 3. a of RA 9262.
Although the cases of battered husbands are not often brought to spotlight, they really occur in real life. Nograles added that the proposed act will give voice to henpecked husbands and boyfriends because as per experience as a lawyer, she encounters men who want to file complaint against their abusive wives but no law tackles such issue. The Congreswoman emphasized that men and women should have equal rights and law to protect their interest and welfare regardless of one's gender.
Source: ManilaStandard.Net
Featured Image from Movie (Latay: Battered Husband)
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