Testing the Magna
Carta for Women

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

How ironical it is that just a few weeks after the President signed into law Republic Act No. 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women, a case comes up like the one involving a former governor and now a Deputy Secretary for National Security, who allegedly beat up a woman he had lived with for several years, and with whom he has fathered five children.

On Sunday, almost all the broadsheets in Manila, and almost all television and radio stations bannered the story of Rachel Tiongson who claimed she had been beaten up by Deputy Secretary Luis “Chavit” Singson. The reports also carried pictures of Tiongson showing her badly bruised face. They also said that she had claimed Singson had attacked her with a whip, and that his bodyguards had also mauled her boyfriend whom he had caught with her in the apartment where she lived.

An unrepentant Singson was also shown admitting the deed, and frankly saying that they were lucky he did not kill them. The statement, for all intents and purposes, appeared to portray him as a wronged spouse who had the right to the provisions of another law granting leniency to a husband or wife who had caught his partner in the act of violating their marriage vows.

But Singson and Tiongson are not married, he has a legal wife, and she, according to her story, was a young college freshman when he courted her and obviously won her with the usual blandishments and demonstrations of love, thoughtfulness and generosity. She said she fell in love with him and agreed to live with him.

But love turned sour, and she said she wanted out of the relationship. She also claimed she had already parted from him, that is why she entertained another suitor. But she was wise to seek the help of women’s groups who are now up in arms in her defense and are just raring to test the effectiveness of the new law.

This is a good test case, because it is going to be a very high-profile one. How far can the Magna Carta really protect women?*