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Query: I am a battered wife, facing a dark future. Three
years ago, I got married to a jobless man I believed would make me
happy. Initially, our marital union was fruitful—we produced a
child. Our relationship, however, subsequently became worse when my
husband succeeded in getting a job, because he also took a
mistress—and he rarely came home.
I confronted him about his infidelity, which
made him violent. He made a punching bag out of me whenever I asked
him about his new schedule. Worse, he threatened to kill me. I
sought the assistance of barangay officials in our community several
months ago, but up to now, they have not taken action. What action
can I take against our sleeping barangay leaders and my philandering
violent husband?
Liza M.
Response
Your barangay leaders are irresponsible
individuals. Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of
1991, among other things, provides:
(a) There is hereby created in each barangay a
lupong tagapamayapa, hereinafter referred to as the lupon,
composed of the punong barangay as chairman and 10 to 20 members.
The lupon shall be constituted every three years in the manner
provided herein;
(b) Any person actually residing or working in
the barangay, not otherwise expressly disqualified by law, and
possessing integrity, impartiality, fairness, and reputation for
probity, may be appointed a member of the lupon;
(c) A notice to constitute x x x include the
names of proposed members who have expressed their willingess to
serve, shall be prepared by the punong barangay within the first 15
days from the start of his term of office x x x posted in three
conspicuous places in the barangay continuously for a period of not
less than three weeks;
(d) The punong barangay, taking into
consideration any opposition to the proposed appointment x x x shall
within 10 days thereafter, appoint as members those whom he
determines to be suitable therefor x x x. (Sec. 399)
For the past several years, this procedure has
not been properly implementated. Obviously, the nonimplementation is
caused by legal ignorance of those who are/were duty-bound to do it.
Thus, the legal consultants of the City College of Manila are
correct in proposing that barangay leaders should undergo paralegal
training—preparatory to “citizens’ education.” The
“citizens’ education” program is desiged to make individuals
know their rights and obligations. It is one of the objectives of
The Manila Times Institute for Paralegal Training. Such a program
has made Canada peaceful and prosperous.
Our advice is for you to lodge a complaint
against the barangay leaders who have not taken any action on your
complaint with the Department of Interior and Local Government.
With respect to your husband, you can formally
charge him criminally for concubinage with the Office of the
City/Provincial Prosecutor. If he married his concubine, charge him
with bigamy. You could also, of course, seek refuge in the law on
Violence Against Women and Children. What is imperative is that you
act fast so that you can finally do something about your
philandering husband and you can go on with your life in a more
positive direction.
___
I wish to congratulate the newly elected
officers of the Malate Rotary Club, headed by Ms. Mercy Ong.
Having answered my call for their active
participation in the administration of justice, it seems that they
are more than willing to be part of that journey towards peace. The
Rotarians of Malate have signified their intention to undergo
paralegal training at The Manila Times, in order to lead a crusade
to make the people more aware of their rights and obligations.
___
Above all things, let us reflect on the
following statement of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ: “If
anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What
profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit
himself?” (Luke 9:23-25)
esmabutas@yahoo.com
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