Groups urge abused spouses to come out like AFP execs’ ex-wives

MANILA, Philippines — Different women’s rights advocate groups have called on abused spouses to come out and seek accountability from their husbands, just like how the former wives of two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials did in a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing.

Gabriela Youth, Gabriela party-list, and other groups have thanked the two women for speaking out against senior AFP officials — including one whose promotion was being discussed at the CA.

Gabriela secretary general Clarice Palce said during a protest movement in Quezon City that they are willing to extend support to women who would come out to report abuse they suffered.

“Gabriela firmly supports brave women who have stepped forward and testified against the violence inflicted by their military spouses.  Military officials who shamelessly abuse women and children must be held accountable immediately,” Palce said.

“We call on all victims of abuse to speak out against the violence perpetrated by the military or any armed state forces. Gabriela extends its support to all women committed to advocating for justice and an end to such abuse,” she added.

According to Gabriela Youth spokesperson Shaye Ganal, it is important for the AFP officials’ wives to speak out as it gives other women courage to rise against their abusive husbands — especially those from the military.

“Just recently the country witnessed a wave of brave women coming forward to share their harrowing experiences of abuse at the hands of their military husbands.  Women like [them] shed light on the dark reality of domestic violence perpetrated by men in power,” Ganal said.

“In a society where patriarchy plays a big role to often silence victims, we applaud these women for their courage in speaking out. Their voices deserve to be heard, especially as these stories demand justice,” she added.

Last March 12, in a briefing before the CA hearing started, a woman went to the Senate with her daughter to block the promotion of his husband, a military colonel set to be promoted into a brigadier general or a one-star rank official.

Eventually, the official was bypassed by the CA, leaving him without his star rank.

READ: CA bypasses AFP official’s promotion after wife’s testimony 

The Army official accused of extramarital relations and domestic abuse however denied child abuse allegations, noting that while he had an affair, it was only after he filed for annulment of their marriage.

Military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla meanwhile said the AFP “takes very seriously all allegations and complaints of misconduct, moreso complaints involving violence against women and children”.

READ: Bypassed AFP official denies wife’s allegations 

Days after the colonel’s promotion was deferred, another woman showed up at the Senate — this time, the ex-wife of a retired three-star general — to attest that some of the wives of military men really go through abuse.

The woman said she is not out to block someone’s appointment at the CA, rather, she just wants to show that many wives have suffered from their military husbands.

READ: Another woman speaks up about ‘abuse’ by military husband 

Palce echoed the two women’s sentiments, saying that women sometimes find it hard to speak as their husbands are in a place of power.

“Cases of abuse like these are not foreign among spouses of military officials in the country.  Many VAW (violence against women) victims find it difficult to speak out for fear of retribution from their perpetrators or by society, especially when those who have committed violence against them are powerful and uniformed men,” Palce claimed.