Why lawmaker sees need to boost awareness on anti-rape law

MANILA — Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas sees the need to boost awareness on the anti-rape law following the recent exchange between Senate Committee on Public Information Chair Robinhood Padilla and lawyer Lorna Kapunan on consensual sex within a marriage during what was supposed to be a committee hearing on the Sandro Muhlach sexual molestation case.

"Doon ko lang naintindihan na parang kailangan talagang i-educate yung mga tao with regards to the anti-rape law, " Brosas told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview. "Ito very fundamental and very basic di ba kapagka pinagusapan kung walang consent di that's rape. "

Brosas' party list group is pushing for an amendment to the anti-rape law to broaden the definition of rape and presume the lack of consent. 

It would also repeal the forgiveness clause that would allow a case for rape against one's spouse.

The Padilla-led hearing on Thursday became viral on social media after Kapunan emphasized that consensual sex is required even in marriage.

In that hearing, Kapunan explained that non-consensual sex may even be a ground for annulment.

"Halimbawa lang nagkaroon na kayo ng marital problem pwede po bang gamitin yun against  doon sa babae o sa lalake sabihin ‘di kasi kaya naman ako nakikipaghiwalay diyan dahil tuwing yayayain ko ayaw ganoon papaano po kaya pwede po bang maging ebidensiya din yun? O ano?" Padilla asked.

"Yes po because sa cases, for instance yung case ng annullment ng marriage ang ground noon ay psychological incapacity  yung basis ng psychological incapacity is yung mutual obligation ng mag-asawa of love and respect. Ngayon part of love is showing your love but kasama po rin doon yung respect," Kapunan explained. 

"For instance ayaw nang spouse mo na magkaroon na mag-sex pinilit mo siya eh wala ka nang, di ka rumirespeto sa asawa mo."

"So grounds yan ng one of the circumstances of psychological incapacity pag lagi kang pinipilit na ganiyan eh pwede ka nang magfile ng annullment of marriage so yun na po ang importante,” Kapunan emphasized.

Padilla  later on  pointed out that some people believe they have "sexual rights" from their spouse, noting that people cannot choose when they are sexually turned on.

"Halimbawa po attorney siyempre di mo maalis sa mag-asawa na ang paniwala lalo kami ako meron kang sexual rights sa asawa mo eh so halimbawa di mo naman pinipili kung kailan ka yung in heat papaano yun pagka ayaw ng asawa mo, so wala pong ibang paraan talaga kung para ma-ano yung lalake so papaano yun mambabae ka na lang ba di kaso kaso na naman yun eh so ano pong ano pong anong pwede mo sabihin sa asawa ko na paano ako na wala sa batas paano naman ako, wala ka sa mood paano ako nasa mood ano po ang  na pwede niya gawin na nasa batas  na wala naman siyang, parang wala kaming choice  bigla ganoon na lang matulog ka na lang?" Padilla said.

"Siguro po ang issue doon ay hindi na legal ang issue na yan eh psychosocial," Kapunan replied.

"Sa legal po halimbawa mapilit yung lalake ano yung sa legal na pwede niyang gawin. Pwede bang will you help me na lang ganoon na lang tulungan mo na lang...matulungan mo ba ako o paano po kaya  ano pwedeng gawin na lang ng babae talagang no, no talaga bahala ka diyan sa buhay mo, ganoon?" Padilla asked.

"Kung minsan kasi yung no naman ng babae hindi naman ano hindi naman arbitrary, hindi naman kung minsan for instance kung kagaya ng well yung instance na lasing yung asawa or under the influence of drugs at gustong makipag sex with the wife syempre under that circumstance magiging violent, hindi, hindi, hindi out of love, " Kapunan explained.

Padilla then would go on to quiz Kapunan about the plight of male spouses whose sexual overtures are unreciprocated.

"Wala pong violence, hindi po siya lasing, out of ano lang po, of urge, ano po yun, siguro naman sasang-ayon naman sa akin ang mga taongbayan pag sinabi kong may iba talagang urge ang mga lalake talaga, may urge talagang nandoon eh papaano yun andiyan ang asawa  mo to serve you ayaw niya so ano paanong anong pwede kong para di ako mareklamo ng asawa ko o ano ano ang pwede ko sabihin sa kaniya na mahal o babe ano ba please help me in a way?" Padilla asked.

"Counselling po ang kailangan,  kailangan po ng ganiyan ang counselling o magdasal na lang kayo,” Kapunan said.

"Kasi yung urge mga 30 minutes na kayo yang urge na yan mabaliw baliw ka eh di ba," Padilla said.

"Manuod po kayo ng Netflix Korean telenovela, " Kapunan replied.

"So legally wala po?" Padilla asked.

"Wala po, " Kapunan said.

"Halimbawa sabihin mo sa asawa mo help me," Padilla said.

"That's why it's important yung issue ng mutual respect if your spouse refuses whether valid or hindi respetuhin natin yung decision ng wife, ng wife or ng husband in that case," Kapunan explained.

Kapunan maintained that wives legally have no obligation to serve their husbands.

"The other po thing is yung statement ng chair with all due respect hindi po, hindi po obligasyon ng isang wife, sabi mo, is to serve the husband," Kapunan said.

"Hindi po yun po yung di ba yung yung normal," Padilla interjected.

"I know," Kapunan said.

"Iyun yung nainstill sa atin," Padilla replied.

"In fact i-dadagdag ko lang kasi maraming lalakeng ditong nakikinig. Sa Family Code po natin in-amend ibang code naman ito ah. Sa Family Code, we amended the Family Code to remove the obligation of obedience. Ngayon, kasi sa old Civil Code 1930's rin yung old Civil Code na yan nakalagay diyan the wife shall obey the husband. Ngayon, wala nang obey obey ng husband. Pinalitan na yan,” Kapunan said, noting that the Family Code in 1988 revised the 1930's civil code.