Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla (Senate PRIB)

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas castigated Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla over his “disturbing” belief that a husband could compel his wife to have sex, even if it’s against her will.

"We remind Sen. Robin Padilla that no means no. Hindi dapat ituring na sexual objects ang kababaihan (Women should not be treated as sexual objects)," Brosas said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 16.

“Consent is non-negotiable, and marriage does not grant a license to disregard a partner's rights,” she asserted.

During a recent hearing in the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, Padilla seemed surprised when a resource person explained that “no means no” even in the context of marriage.

“Wala ka sa mood, paano ako? (If you are not in the mood, what about me?)” Padilla was even quoted as saying, as the senator argued that the spouse should cater their partner’s needs.

For Brosas, these remarks exhibit a “dangerous misunderstanding” of consent.

“It is appalling to hear such outdated and harmful views being propagated, particularly in a public hearing,” the congresswoman said.

"Ang consent ay kusang ibinibigay at hindi pinipilit. Panahon pa ni kopong-kopong ang pagtingin na walang karapatan ang babae na humindi sa pakikipagtalik sa asawa," she added.

(Consent is given voluntarily and is not coerced. It is such an outdated belief that a woman has no right to refuse sex with her husband.)

With this, the Makabayan solon underscored the urgent need to amend the country's Anti-Rape Law.

Under House Bill (HB) No. 401, Brosas seeks to broaden the definition of rape, establish a presumption of lack of consent, and repeal the law’s “archaic” provisions such as the forgiveness clause for married victims and perpetrators.

The measure also aims to eliminate the necessity of overt physical force to constitute rape. This is alongside imposing stiffer penalties for men in uniform and persons of authority who exploit their power.

With supposed outdated perspectives shaping the country’s legislative policies, Brosas called on her colleagues in the House of Representatives to prioritize this bill.

“Now, more than ever, it is important that we legislate with the reality of women's experiences at the forefront to ensure that all individuals are protected unequivocally from sexual violence," she stressed.