MANILA — Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas welcomed the approval of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality’s report on the substitute bill which seeks to amend the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
The lawmaker said that the approval is a huge feat, especially when the cases of violence against women and their children perpetrated by police officers have been on the rise.
Last week, the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement group said that cases of violence against women and their children have topped the charges which have been filed against police officers. Out of the 42 warrants of arrest that the courts issued since 2022, 24 police officers have been arrested for violating the Anti-VAWC Law.
“It is alarming that most cases of violence against women and their children were perpetrated by men in uniform. Worse, this is just the tip of the iceberg as most victims refuse to report their abusers due to fear of retaliation,” Rep. Brosas said.
Gabriela Women’s Party authored House Bill 403 which seeks to define electronic violence against women and their children by amending the 19-year-old Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act. The substitute bill also provides 20 days of VAWC leave from 10 days for victims of abuse.
Meanwhile, the militant women’s group slammed Sen. Robin Padilla on his “panchi-chicks.”
“We would like to remind Senator Robin Padilla that his job is to address gaps in current laws and not womanizing. Women should not be treated like mere objects that men can use in their spare time.”
“His statement is unbecoming of a public official, and a violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials which states that public officials must uphold the public interest over and above personal interest. Moreover, it reeks of misogyny and toxic masculinity which should not be tolerated in this society.”
Gabriela also claimed Senator Padilla might still be confused about whether to serve the people or continue womanizing in the Senate.
The group also urged the former action star to “contemplate if he is still fit to work as a public servant.”
“We urge Senator Padilla to issue a public apology and uphold his sworn duty as a legislator with utmost devotion and respect to Filipino women.”
“As new forms of violence against women and their children continue to plague our society, there is a need to amend our current laws to provide justice to the victims,” Rep. Brosas said.
“We hope that our proposed amendments can streamline the process of reporting VAWC cases, provide more leave benefits for victims, and help them fight back against powerful perpetrators who use their position to abuse vulnerable persons,” Rep. Brosas ended. (Amado Inigo/MTVN)
