Catcalling should not be blamed on women’s clothing, says PNP
Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, Philippine National Police spokesperson. Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Catcalling and other forms of harassment against women should not be blamed on their clothing, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said Friday.
Banac said this as the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, February 6, approved the reconciled version of the proposed Safe Spaces Act, which seeks to penalize catcalling and other forms of sexual harassment.
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“Kung anuman ang mga expression ng mga kababaihan sa kanilang pananamit at pang-ayos, ito po ay ating igalang at irespeto dahil po ang mga kababaihan ay bigay ng Diyos sa atin,” he told reporters.
(Whatever the expression of the women in their clothing and appearance, we should respect it because the women were given to us by God.)
“Anuman ang kanilang expression, igalang po natin iyan, at tayo pong kalalakihan ang dapat managot kung meron mang mangyaring masama sa kanila,” he also said.
(Whatever their expression is, let us respect it, and we men should be liable if any harm will happen to them.)
Banac said the bill, once finalized into law, will help in decreasing the number of gender-based crimes.
“Ang panukalang ito ay malaki ang maitutulong sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan sa ating bansa kaya po ang paalala ko lahat sa mga kalalakihan, igalang po natin ang mga kababaihan,” he said.
(This bill will be of great help in maintaining order in our country that’s why my reminder to men is to respect the women.)
In Metro Manila alone, police recorded a total of 3,791 cases of sexual harassment against women in 2018, according to data from the National Capital Region Police Office.
Of this number, 1,088 are incidents of rape; 693 are acts of lasciviousness; 33 are cases in violation of the Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, and; 1,977 are cases in violation of the Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. /jpv
