Browbeaten or abused husbands, or those called “ander de sayas” may soon seek protection under the skirt of the law if a bill filed by Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles is passed.
House Bill No. 6252, or the Anti-Violence Against Partners and their Children (Anti-VAPC) bill, aims to amend the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9262) to include male partners under the remit of persons afforded protection by the said law.
“We must recognize that there are also male partners who are victims of abuse.”
The bill also expands the coverage to members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community.
According to its explanatory note, “this bill shall prohibit all forms of violence against partners and their children, in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.”
It also explains that “the bill also expands the covered acts under R.A. 9262 to include electronic violence done against partners and their children.”
Nograles, a Harvard-trained lawyer, said the measure’s primary purpose is to weed out violence and abuse in relationships regardless of gender.
“We must recognize that there are also male partners who are victims of abuse, yet are unable to report such incidents because of prejudice,” said the lawmaker.
The solon also seeks to include as an act of violence the creation of fake social media accounts to sow intrigue and inflict harm.
“Violence and abuse do not discriminate.”
Any act of violence perpetuated as hate crimes against partners and their children would also be considered a special aggravating circumstance, which would impose the maximum penalty on the violator.
“The bill is really just a tweak to improve what has been an excellent mechanism to protect the Filipino family,” Nograles said.
“Violence and abuse do not discriminate. Babae man o lalake, at miyembro ng LGBT, may suffer from the deleterious effects of an abusive relationship. It’s government’s duty to protect everyone.”