Rep. Arlene Brosas, Gabriela Women’s Party representative and Koalisyong Makabayan senatorial candidate, condemned the recent anti-women statement of Sen. Robinhood Padilla regarding marriage and couples. In a senate hearing, Padilla casually blurted out the idea of forcing a wife if her husband wants to have sex.

“We want to remind Sen. Robin Padilla that no means no,” stressed Rep. Brush. She said, women should not be treated as sexual objects as the senator implies in his statements.

“It is appalling to hear such outdated and harmful views being propagated by a legislator in a public hearing,” said Rep. Brush.

Sen. Padilla expressed this in the senate hearing investigating complaints of sexual abuse and harassment in the media industry. His remarks was made during a hearing on allegations of sexual abuse made by a newbie artist against two senior creative personnel of GMA-7.

Rep. Brosas stressed that, “consent is given voluntarily and is not forced. The time that views women having no right to say no to having sex with her husband is history.”

The Gabriela women’s group express a similar criticism. Clarice Palce, general secretary of the group, said Sen. Padilla’s statement exposes his machismo and blatant disregard for women’s rights and autonomy.

“Senator Padilla’s line of questioning not only disrespects women but also trivializes the serious issue of consent,” Palce said.

Gabriela called for accountability from public officials and urges the public to reject any form of misogyny and gender-based violence and discrimination. They also challenged Senator Padilla to retract his “macho and dangerous statement.”

In this regard, the Gabriela Women’s Party is pushing for the adoption of the current Anti-Rape Law. They intend for the law to reflect the evolving understanding of the concept of consent and the coverage of sexual abuse cases in different contexts.