Court-mandated financial support for the woman

The talk is Philippine Stock Exchange president Cayetano Paderanga Jr. does not show up at his PSE-Tektite office twice or thrice a week. This could be traced in part to his having at least three other jobs, including that of president of PSE’s credit bureau subsidiary.

Running PSE’s day-to-day operations is chief operating officer Jurisita Quintos, whom Mr. Paderanga got from the office of Senate President Franklin Drilon. While competent, Joy Quintos is said to be still learning the ropes.

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Did you know 1: Government Service Insurance System president Winston Garcia has stopped all ad placements – be these in newspapers, television, or radio – since March 31.

Prior to that, GSIS has been all over the place on topics such as the pension fund’s computerization project, scholarship program, and one-month salary loan for the summer.

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Did you know 2: A case has been with Civil Service Commission chairman Patricia Sto. Tomas against an officer of a government financial institution. The complainant claimed he was sexually abused by the officer, also a male, during office hours.

The GFI’s legal department is already doing the preliminary legwork.

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Did you know 3: Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. is said to be so excited about the local cultivation of sea bass that he has recently sent some of his staff abroad to study it.

Joe de Venecia should also perhaps consider talking to such local companies such as Alcantara-owned Alsons Aquaculture Corp., which already produces and sells Philippine sea bass (just as delicious and cheaper than the Chilean sea bass that every self-respecting restaurant has on its menu.)

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Here’s something that should interest corporate HRDs.

Under Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2001 which took effect last March 27, the family court (in this case, the regional trial court) can order the employer of a man who does not provide financial support to his family to deduct the court-ordered amount from the employee’s monthly salary and remit the amount directly to his family.

Section 8 (g) states: "Failure to remit and/or withhold or any delay in the remittance of support to the woman and/or her child without justifiable cause shall render the respondent or his employer liable for indirect contempt of court."

You see, RA 9262 covers not only physical and psychological abuse but also economic abuse that a man inflicts on his family, whether or not the woman he has a "dating relationship" with is his wife and whether or not the children born of such a relationship is legitimate.