By Atty. Howie Calleja
To avoid sounding biased allow me to first give you verbatim what Sen. Robin Padilla said in a recent Senate Hearing, he argued, “Hindi mo maiaalis sa mag-asawa na ang paniwala, lalo kami, ako, meron kang sexual rights sa asawa mo, e. So, halimbawa hindi mo naman pinipili, e, kung kailan ka yung in heat, ano? So, papano yun, pag ayaw ng asawa mo? So, wala kang ibang paraan talaga, para maano yung lalaki? So, paano? Mambabae ka na lang ba? E, di kaso na naman yun. Ano ang puwede mong sabihin sa asawa mo na wala sa batas? Paano naman ako? Wala ka sa mood. Paano ako, nasa mood?”
Such a controversial statement spoken by this actor and pardoned ex-convict turned politician who insisted on his belief that he has “sexual rights” over his wife asking resource person Atty. Lorna Kapunan about possible options for a husband being refused sex by his partner. Honestly, I was utterly shocked hearing this from a supposedly Honorable Senator of this country.
Adding more insult to injury, he did not end there by further stating, “Siguro naman, sasang-ayon naman sa akin ang taumbayan na may iba talagang urge ang mga lalaki talaga. May urge na talagang andun, e. So, papano yun? Andiyan yung asawa mo to serve you, ayaw niya? Anong puwedeng ano para hindi ako mareklamo ng asawa ko?” Truly, I have only one thing to say … It was so UNBECOMING.
And if you are wondering what it means, according to Merriam-Webster, unbecoming means “not according with the standards appropriate to one’s position or condition of life; unbecoming conduct.” As for the dictionary definition, unbecoming is described as “detracting from one’s appearance, character, or reputation; unattractive or unseemly.” Yes, I said it … This was so UNBECOMING.
Such a waste of time and resources of our taxpayers’ money to be given to a sitting Senator who does not seem to know what he is talking about. He does not even have the moral ascendancy to be a legislator of issues he seems to be a moral weakling even to comprehend.
Mr. Senator, Marriage is not sexual servitude. What Sexual Rights? There are no sexual rights even in marriage. Your wife is not your slave nor a property you own; and if you cannot fundamentally understand or grasp this, you have no business being a Senator of our country. Yes by some miracle or maneuver you became a senator but that doesn’t mean you could legislate sexual rights. Sadly your conduct is so unbecoming that to say you are not worthy to be called a Senator is an obvious understatement.