Battered husbands urged to secure protection order

CEBU, Philippines- Women who maltreat their husbands can be also prevented from staying at their conjugal homes if their spouses secure a Barangay Protection Order from the barangay captain, a city councilor said.        

Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said he actually authored a domestic violence ordinance in the city, which also gives equal protection to husbands who are being maltreated by their wives.

The ordinance was crafted a few years after the enactment of Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, in 2004, which only covers the rights of the women and children, he said.

“Amo g’yud nga gihatagan og equal protection ang mga bana diha sa ordinansa kay duna may mga sitwasyon nga ang mga bana maoy gidagmalan sa ilang mga asawa,” Carillo said.

 According to him, a battered husband will just have to proceed to the barangay hall and ask for a Barangay Protection Order.

Once the barangay captain issues the BPO, the wife of the complainant will no longer be allowed to enter their conjugal house to prevent further incident.

Rose Salazar of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said they have not yet encountered even a single case that a husband complained that he was maltreated by his wife.

 “Wala pa g’yud mi rekord sa DSWD nga dunay bana nga mireklamo,” said Salazar.

During a radio program of Carillo, the city official said, “Basin og nauwaw lang nga mahibaw-an.”

The councilor said an abused husband suffers the same emotional, verbal and physical abuse as a battered wife, but are just ashamed to report their case to the authorities.

A battered husband, Carillo added, often spends more time at work to avoid potential conflicts with his wife or in some occasions, may decide to rest in the family car or office.  (FREEMAN)