Senator Robin Padilla asked if a husband could force his wife to have sex with against her will, resulting in a lesson about consent.
Following accusations regarding GMA-7 contractors, Padilla, who is heading a Senate investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and assault in the media, confronted attorney Lorna Kapunan, an advocate for women’s and children’s rights, regarding the concept of rape as it stands today.
Kapunan emphasized that even in the context of a wife and husband’s marriage, no means no. Hence, Padilla was caught startled by the response.
“Mayroon kang sexual rights sa asawa mo. So halimbawa, hindi mo naman pinipili ‘yung ‘in heat’. So paano ‘yun kung ayaw ng asawa mo? So wala pong ibang paraan talaga? Para ma-ano ‘yung lalaki, so paano ‘yun, mambabae ka na lang ba?” Padilla questioned at a meeting of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.
“Wala ka sa mood, paano ako?” he added.
“Counseling o magdasal na lang kayo”, Kapunan suggested.
Regardless of the validity of a spouse’s refusal, Kapunan stated that it is important to honor that choice.
“With all due respect, hindi po obligasyon ng isang wife, sabi mo is to ‘serve the husband’,” Kapunan emphasized.
Padilla additionally asked if men could also say no in which Kapunan stated that both genders have the freedom to refuse.
“’Yung basis ng psychological incapacity is ‘yung mutual obligation ng mag-asawa of love and respect. Now part of love is showing your love, but kasama rin po do’n ang respect,” Kapunan explained.
As per Kapunan, forcing a spouse to have sex when they don’t want to demonstrates disrespect and may lead to the annulment of the marriage.
Photo courtesy: Manila Standard