Sen. Robin Padilla was hot topic on social media recently.
And for the wrong reason.
During a recent hearing at the Senate, The actor-politician was heard insisting 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.
He said, "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?"
Atty. Kapunan was surprisingly only too willing to entertain the lawmaker's question.
She said, "Kung minsan kasi, yung 'no' naman ng babae, hindi naman ano, hindi naman arbitrary. For instance...lasing yung asawa or under the influence of drugs at gustong makipag-sex with the wife, ano. Siyempre under that circumstance, nagiging violent. Hindi out of love."
The senator inquired further, "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?"
Atty. Kapunan answered, "Counselling po ang kailangan diyan o magdasal na lang kayo (or) manood na lang kayo ng Netflix o ng Koreanovela."
She then made clear: "If your spouse refuses, whether valid or hindi, respetuhin natin yung decision ng wife or nung husband in that case."
She added: "With all due respect, hindi po obligasyon ng isang wife, sabi mo is to serve the husband."
"In fact, idadagdag ko lang, kasi marami pong lalaking nakikinig, sa Family Code po natin…we amended it to remove the obligation of obedience. Sa old civil code, 1930s din yung old civil code na yan, nakalagay diyan, 'the wife should obey the husband.' Ngayon, wala nang obey-obey ng husband. Pinalitan na yan. Yung family code, ini-revise nung 1988. Ang nakalagay na diyan, 'husband and wife are obliged to mutually respect each other.' So, mutual respect na ngayon."
Netizens were up in arms, castigating Sen. Padilla for his supposed "cave-man" outlook.
Some of the comments:
"Napag-iwanan na si Idol. Panahon pa ng kopong-kopong paniwala niya."
"Binoto ninyo ito??"
"Disgusting!!!"
"Imagine wasting hours of hearing just to clarify simply matters to a senator of the land!!!???"
Chel Diokno also reacted, posting, "Husbands do not have 'sexual rights' over their wives. Lahat ng kababaihan ay may pantay na pagkatao at kalayaan sa sarili. No means no. Respeto lang yan."
Akbayan also issued a statement: "Senator, women are not playthings that exist in the service of your mood swings. Your desires don't dictate women's decisions on their bodies. Ang tawag po doon pang-aabuso."