Humingi ng paumanhin si House Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chair Geraldine Roman kay dating Senator Leila De Lima at iba pang mga kababaihan na nakaranas ng misogynistic remarks mula sa nakaraang adminitasyon.
Ayon kay Roman, nanahimik sila noong nakaraang Kongreso dala ng takot.
Tila may pahiwatig kasi at pagbabanta na bawal ang oposisyon.
Kaya naman para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga distrito ay hindi na aniya sila nagsalita.
“I remember in the 17th Congress, and I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity to ask and seek forgiveness and apologize to the Senator Leila Dilma, because at that time it seems that the past administration was sending like a message to the Legislative that hindi pwedeng may opposition, hindi pwedeng may dissenting voice. And a sitting Senator was imprisoned. So unjustly for seven years.
And many of us here in the House of Representatives, mostly the women, we felt like we have to quiet, to protect our districts. So this is a different administration where there is freedom of speech. And I’d like to take advantage to apologize to the millions of women who might have felt offended by misogynistic remarks that have been made in the past by our elected officials.” sabi ni Roman
Ito rin aniya ang dahilan ng kanilang pagsusulong ng amyenda sa Safe Spaces Act, kung saan may probisyong nakasaad na ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan ang dapat manguna sa pagiging ehemplo sa pagbibigay galang sa mga kababaihan.
Ang mga halal aniyang opisyal ng pamahalaan ay maaaring maharap sa kaparusahan kung lalabag oras na maging ganap itong batas.
“It is for this reason that from the Committee on Women and Gender Equality, we are trying to amend the Safe Spaces Act to include a provisions for elected officials na dapat magsilbing huwaran, at mabuting ehemplo sa ating mga mamayang. Hindi po tam ana gumawa tayo ng mga misogynsits, homophobic, transphobic remarks, we should be respectful always of women. Kapag ang isang halal na opisyal ay napakita ng ganitong kalseng behavior siya po ay nagpapadala ng maling mensahe sa citizen, sa ating mga mamayang. So gusto namin, sa aming pag-amyenda sa Safe Spaces Act ay ma-penalize, at maparusahan ang ganitong klaseng behavior.” Dagdag ng mambabatas
Nagpahayag rin ng pagkadismayas si Roman sa naging pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa isang alagad pambansang pulisya, kung saan tinawag niya itong bakla.
Sabi ni Roman, hindi niya inaasahan na sa bise presidente pa mismo manggagaling ang ganitong mga pahayag lalo’t kilala siyang taga suporta ng LGBTQ Community.
Diin pa ng Bataan solon, na ang pagiging gay, trans o lesbian ay hindi ibig sabihan na “weak” o may kahinaan ang isang indibidwal.
“We should not equate being gay or being trans or being lesbian with being weak. I think it’s quite surprising and disappointing the remarks knowing that the vice president isa declared supporter of the LGBTQ community. I did not expect that kind of remark on her.” sabi pa ni Roman. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
