Opinion

Women voice outrage at public shaming

BREAKTHROUGH - Elfren S. Cruz - The Philippine Star

October 2, 2016 | 12:00am

This week, the incensed voices of women’s groups were heard in protest over the plan of the House of Representatives to play a sex video in connection with hearings on the drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison and the alleged involvement of Leila de Lima in the case. I have reproduced two of the many messages I have read and received regarding this case.

Statement by Vice President Leni Robredo

“The ongoing inquiry by the House of Representatives into the alleged drug trade in the national penitentiary has become a matter of great interest to the public, creating strong sentiments and generating passionate debate among our fellow Filipinos.

And precisely because of this, I believe it is critical that the members and leadership of the House – many of whom are my former colleagues from the previous Congress – keep the proceedings calm, sober, and objective as the investigation proceeds.

I am concerned by the news that, as part of this investigation, there is a plan to show a supposed video of an incumbent Senator engaged in an intimate act.

As a former legislator, I fail to see how this will contribute to a substantial discussion of the issues being taken up.

As a lawyer, I believe that this act may be in violation of penal laws. And as a long time advocate for human and woman’s rights, I am profoundly disturbed by a proposal that amounts to public shaming of a woman and the infliction of grave harm on her dignity as a human person.

It is my earnest hope that all of us in public service, including my former colleagues in the House do our utmost to maintain a rational and respectful level of discourse, with the same passion that we zealously pursue the truth.

Let us work together to establish a culture of respect and professionalism, both in government and in the larger sphere of public discussion. I have every faith that we will be up to this challenge.

Women writers outraged at public shaming

“We, the Women Writers in Media Now, are outraged. The intent of the Speaker of the House of Representatives supported by the Secretary of Justice, to show during a House hearing the video, purportedly of a woman senator having sex, is vile, sexist, if not outright misogynistic. It is meant to defile a human being, who is by right, entitled to respect, privacy, and dignity.

This behavior of our national leaders is a disgrace. It violates the right of every person – female or male, whistleblower or lackey, young or old, ordinary citizen or senator – to the guarantees of dignity and respect by our Constitution. It is, for us, a source of anguish and anger that leaders of the House and Executive show no trepidation or qualm about violating these guarantees with malice towards one.

We are incensed by this cavalier threat by the speaker and the Secretary of Justice to expose the sexual proclivities, real or imagined, of any person. This is an abuse of power. It effectively defiles a person who has not been proven to be in the right or the wrong. And, even if the person were eventually found to be in the wrong, what can a person’s sex life have to do with the case under investigation, other than to shame the accused, titillate the public, and herald the powers of a speaker and a justice secretary.

As journalists and as women, we are enraged by this virtual rape of Senator Leila de Lima by our lawmakers. We are scandalized by this attack on her basic constitutional rights to dignity and privacy.

Slut-shaming is cruel, despicable, and in this case un-parliamentary. It is, at its core, an assault on all women. Yes. On all of us. Your very own wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins, and friends.

All of you who smack your lips with delight at the thought of exhibiting a sex video to the world to shame a woman, are you not descending to the level of perverts? Yes, perverts.

A man, no matter how crass, is not made to undergo such a punishment. But, under a misogynistic government, women are fair game. When a woman rails against the powers to express outrage, she is dismissed as hysterical; when a man hurls personal insults in anger, he is lauded as decisive. When a woman is sexually active she is shamed; when a man has multiple sex partners, he is extolled.

These vestiges of a double standard have no place in our society in the 21st century. We demand the respect due us who hold up half the sky. We demand to be treated as co-equal partners in building our nation.

We must put an end to ugly voyeurism that has publicly debased a woman senator without regard for her personhood. We call out our legislators’ impaired though processes. We want the return of respect, dignity and due process for all. We insist as citizens, to be treated right.

We still, after all, live under a democracy, last we looked.”

Signed October 1, 2016

Karina Africa Bolasco; Marites Vitug; Rochit I. Tanedo; Paulynn Paredes Sicam; Gemma Nemenzo; Elvira Mata; Jo-An Maglipon; Sylvia Mayuga; Neni Sta. Romana Cruz; Fe Panaligan Poons; Sol Juvida; Fanny Garcia; Ceres Doyo.