Have you ever encountered a couple whose wife is the one who holds her husband's ATM card? Well, a lawmaker has filed a bill that would punish wives for economic abuse due to them, keeping their husbands' ATM cards.
Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 Expansion
Should the expansion of VAWC of 2004 be pushed, wives who hold hostage of their husbands' ATM cards and salaries would be held and tagged as a person for economic abuse. This bill was filed by Fidel Nograles, Rizal second (2nd) district representative as an amendment to expand the current VAWC law; including both LGBTQIA+ partners and husbands in the act.
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Fidel Nograles continues to explain that the partners (husbands) are the ones losing income or money and the right to decide where the money he worked for comes.
Ang economic abuse ay ‘yung ginagawang financially dependent ‘yung partner sa inyo at nawawalan siya ng karapatan na magdesisyon kung paano tutugunan ang kanyang sariling pangangailangan."
In Translation: What economic abuse is related to this? Well, the wives are making their partners financially dependent to them. Husbands are losing the right to decide where their money goes; not to their own need.
Current VAWC act
Fidel also mentioned that the established VAWC act only includes children and women. However, some studies show that about twelve (12) to fifteen (15) percent of relationships have the men or the husbands abused.
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Seizing the partner's ATM card
He continued to say that one traditional and classic example of this instance is when wives seize their partners' or husbands' ATM cards. Even though they weren't the ones who worked those countless hours; they get their husbands' whole salaries.
Classic example dito ay ‘yung pagkuha ng ATM card ng partner, pagkuha ng lahat ng sweldo, tapos hindi bibigyan ng pagkakataon ‘yung partner na bumili o magdecide ng kanyang mga sariling gastusin."
In Translation: One classic example of this instance is when the wife gets the ATM card of their partner. When they get the whole salary of the husband without them giving their husbands a chance to purchase or decide about his financial responsibilities and spending.
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Gender equality?
A lot of people think of gender equality only favoring women. However, this is not what 2nd district rep thinks; in his measure, he said that he wants to pursue "mainstream gender equality." Moreover, he said that he wanted to make the protection on every aspect of a relationship incorporating everyone—not just the women.
He said that in our time now, women and children aren't the only ones who need help and support. Men and other people in the LGBTQIA+ community need it too.
Sa panahon ngayon, hindi lang women and their children ang nangangailangan. Tumataas ang trend nito at dahil sa macho ego culture natin, nahihiya lumantad ang mga abused husbands."
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In Translation: In this age, children and women aren't the only ones who have their needs. This trend is increasing because of the culture of "macho" we were used to; all husbands aren't open to stating about them being abused.
Women or wives controlling husbands' ATM cards?
Yes, these things do happen; if you're not aware of it. In fact, it comprises most of the working class. This instance was what Representative Nograles put emphasis on.
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Representative Nograles really put emphasis on the fact that most of the cases of abused husbands surrender their ATM cards and their salaries to their wives. This results to them not being able to properly handle and manage their own needs.
Do you know couples whose wives control their husbands' ATM cards? If so, then that practice should now be avoided because should this bill become signed into law, then all of those instances could be punishable.
Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer | GMA Network
I am so saddened and very much emotionally and intellectually affected by the creation of Congressman Fidel Nograles House Bill#4888. In my own opinion this congressman FAIL to look at the big picture of family composition, Husband and wife symbiotic relationship.
Congressman Nograles should better create a bill that will give a SUSTAINABLE/COMPLETE financial freedom for ABUSED women. Congressman Nograles should create a bill providing
PERMANENT JOBS for ABUSED women, SUSTAINABLE livelihood by providing a strong marketing of product.
I am one of those ABUSED by the father of my children and yet I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH to handle matters like this. I even experienced insensitive handling of women's desk officer during filing of cases.
Congressman Nograles, Sir, the bill you created actually is not addressing the heart of the problem of ABUSIVENESS inside the family...This DOMESTIC ABUSIVENESS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY OUR GOVERNMENT SERIOUSLY but we FAILED. Family court trial is not enough. This broken family needs financial help, needs emotional stability, needs social acceptance.
Congressman Nograles hope you understand how it is to be a WOMAN. I am more than willing to washed my linen in public just to give share and understand the burden of many women ABUSED and HIDING because of SHAME...the STIGMA of social circumstances.
Where is the GABRIELA women, the Commission on Human Rights and other affiliated women's group.
Again this is my own opinion, and I don't mind if other people will comment and say " YOU SHOULD NOT POST THAT" I am sorry but the public should know and ABUSED women should surface and speak up... That is my own version of WOMAN'S WORTH... for all mothers and women like me, congratulations to us all