Month: December 2021

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva Decries Casino Licensing: ‘Expect Rise in Poverty

CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva Decries Casino Licensing: ‘Expect Rise in Poverty and Other Evils of Gambling Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List Representative and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva expresses grave dismay over the recent lifting of moratorium on licensing of casinos, allowing the resumption of gambling operations in the country.

“We are terribly disappointed by this policy reversal on casino licensing ban in the country. Volumes of empirical studies have shown that a rise in gambling activity correlates with a rise in poverty, devastated families, mental disorders, and prevalence of social menaces like prostitution, drug trafficking, corruption, and money laundering. Government just reignited the engine of misery that gives rise to these gambling-related evils. Turning to gambling in the name of revenue generation is a hallucination. It’s no solution, just a trade-off. And the risks far outweigh any alleged benefit,” says Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

On Friday, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has lifted the ban on licensing new casinos after three years of halt. This happened after the President said in one of his televised addresses that he is now lifting the ban as a measure to raise more revenues amid the prolonged state of health emergency. The President also encouraged the establishment of a casino hub in Boracay as an alternative destination for Manila, which has been economically stagnated by successive strict quarantine restrictions.

“We are cognizant of the challenge to galvanize revenue for the pandemic response, but we reject the ineffective policy of turning to gambling and casinos. A real solution government can immediately implement is rectifying and rationalizing its skewed spending priorities and plugging the gaping holes of corruption that drain available public resources for battling COVID-19,” adds the CIBAC lawmaker.

“Ang mas malaking isyu ay kung nagagamit ba nang husto ang pondo na meron tayo ngayon. Are government funds being utilized to its optimum and maximum use? Eh sa mga lumalabas sa mga imbestigasyon natin sa Kongreso tungkol sa paggamit ng pondo laban sa COVID-19, katakot-takot na overpricing, underspending, at fund mismanagement ang nakikita natin. Bakit hindi seryosong aksyunan at linisin ang mga ito upang lubusang mapakinabangan ang pondong mayroon tayo ngayon?” adds the CIBAC lawmaker.

Prior to the pandemic, PAGCOR – the government’s third largest contributor of revenues next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – usually remitted around P80 billion of cash to the government. However, it was only able to generate P30 billion in 2020. For this year, PAGCOR is reportedly expecting to collect P35 billion, citing pandemic-induced economic sluggishness.

The CIBAC solon claims that efforts to boost revenue-generation must instead be focused on curbing tax evasion by large taxpayers and on arresting the problem of smuggling. He says that “the more viable solution is not to look for new risky sources of cash but to conduct a thorough fiscal housekeeping demanded by a pandemic situation.”

“Sadly, allowing casinos to operate again will only open a pipe dream trap for Filipinos to gamble away their pandemic-stricken savings for a slim chance of gaining more. And as our countrymen suffer from the evils of gambling, we risk becoming turn the online gambling capital of Asia, if not of the world, catering to foreign patrons from countries that have themselves banned gambling for the moral and social evils it creates,” exclaims the CIBAC lawmaker.

“Lastly, and most important of all, God abhors gambling. It feeds and promotes a person’s insatiable appetite and greed for money in pursuit of instant great wealth. A pro-gambling policy is a pro-curses policy. It invites divine judgment and is inimical to the interest of the Filipino people,” ends Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

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ANO BA ANG MGA HAKBANG NA DAPAT GAWIN SA PAGPAPAREHISTRO?

Narito ang apat na paraan (pumili lamang ng isa) para maging isang botante:

Option A Sagutan at isumite ang application form na ibinigay ng Office of the Election Officer (OEO)

Step 1: Pumunta sa OEO kung saan ka nakarehistro o nagnanais na magrehistro. Step 2: Kumuha ng CEF-1 form mula sa Office of the Election Officer (OEO) Step 3: Punan ang lahat ng kailangang field para sa iyong application form gamit ang ballpen (mangyaring isulat nang malinaw). Humingin ng tulong mula sa OEO kung kinakailangan.

Step 4: Isumite ang iyong aplikasyon sa OEO pagkatapos isulat ang lahat ng kailangang impormasyon sa form. Ang mga karagdagang tagubilin ay tatalakayin sa iyo ng OEO.

Option B

I-download at i-print ang blangkong form ng CEF-1. Pagkatapos ay sagutan ito bago pumunta sa OEO

Step 1: I-download ang CEF-1 (at iba pang form kung kinakailangan) mula sa Application Forms page.

Step 2: I-print ang nai-download na CEF-1 sa 8′ x 13′ (Folio) na papel. Ang form ay kailangang i-print ng baliktaran.

Step 3: Punan ang lahat ng kailangang field para sa iyong application form gamit ang ballpen (mangyaring isulat nang malinaw). Humingin ng tulong mula sa OEO kung kinakailangan.

Step 4: Isumite ang iyong aplikasyon sa OEO pagkatapos isulat ang lahat ng kailangang impormasyon sa form. Ang mga karagdagang tagubilin ay tatalakayin sa iyo ng OEO.

CEF-1 and Application Forms here

Option C

I-download ang form (CEF-1) bago i-print ang form. Sagutan ito sa iyong computer, phone o tablet (Gamit ang PDF Reader), Pagkatapos ay pumunta sa Office of the Election Officer (OEO).

Step 1: I-download ang CEF-1 (at iba pang form kung kinakailangan) mula sa Application Forms page.

Step 2: Buksan ang nai-download na CEF-1 file (PDF format) gamit ang PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader DC)

Step 3: Suriin ang lahat ng angkop na pagpiliian sa bilog.

Step 4: Punan ang lahat ng kailangang field para sa iyong application form (Ang mga kinakailangang field ay naka-highlight kapag napili ang isang opsiyon).

Step 5: I-print ang nai-download na CEF-1 sa 8′ x 13′ (Folio) na papel. Ang form ay kailangang i-print ng baliktaran.

Step 6: Isumite ang iyong aplikasyon sa OEO pagkatapos isulat ang lahat ng kailangang impormasyon sa form. Ang mga karagdagang tagubilin ay tatalakayin sa iyo ng OEO.

CEF-1 and Application forms here

Option D

Gamitin ang I-rehistro web app.

Step 1: Buksan ang iRehistro web app.

Step 2: Pumili ng angkop na mga opsiyon para saiyong aplikasyon at punan ang lahat ng kailangang field.

Step 3: Basahing mabuti at sundin ang lahat ng mga panuto na ibinigay ng iRehistro.

Step 4: Pagkatapos makumpleto ang iRehistro, pumunta sa OEO (depende sa iyong itinakdang araw ng appointment) kung saan ka nakarehistro o nagnanais na magrehistro upang personal na isumite ang iyong application form. Karagdagang mga tagubilin sa iyo ng OEO.

iRehistro Web app

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva to DOH, DTI:Intensify info drive on RT-PCR testing price cap policy

Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List Representative and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva calls on the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to further intensify information dissemination on its policy of setting a lowered price cap on real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing in the country.

On August 26, 2021, DOH released Circular No. 2021-037 which imposes a price limit on RT-PCR testing in the country. According to the Circular which became effective on September 6, 2021, plate-based RT-PCR should only now cost Php2,800 in public health facilities and Php3,360 in private service providers. In the same vein, cartridge-based testing should only now amount to a maximum Php2,450 and Php2,940, respectively in public and private service providers. Private testing centers can charge only up to 20% of the price as allowable mark-up. In addition, a Php 1,000 price cap on home service fee is also imposed. Senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) discounts are applicable to the total amount of the service/s rendered.

However, the CIBAC lawmaker says that he has received reports and has personal observations of persisting exorbitant overpricing of RT-PCR testing.

“Beset by an inflation rate that recently jumped to 4.%, the highest since January 2019, Filipinos are still entangled in a complex of problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why the lowered price cap for RT-PCR tests should come as an unequivocal good news to Filipinos. However, the implementation of DOH Circular No. 2021-0374 needs more intensified and vigorous information dissemination to achieve results,” says the CIBAC solon.

Deputy Speaker Villanueva cites an incident wherein DOH’s official Twitter account posted and later on deleted an infographic of the updated price cap. “The action sent mixed messages to the public. As a consequence, the seriousness of the price cap was put into question,” says the CIBAC solon.

Deputy Speaker Villanueva suggests for DOH and DTI to make their messaging “unambiguous” and to execute a “more vigorous information dissemination” campaign because, ultimately, the aim of the price cap is to “benefit Filipinos by enabling them to reduce healthcare-related expenses and preserve their pandemic-stricken savings.”

The CIBAC lawmaker also raises concern over persistent anecdotal and media reports of overpriced RT-PCR tests being openly peddled in the market. Hence, he believes that deterring overpricing by imposing punishment on violators would be effective in ensuring that Filipinos are “protected from these predators.”

“Those who would exploit and seek to profit from the suffering of their fellowmen must be punished. Thus, I call for the serious implementation of the Circular. The reality on the ground is that many greedy people have disproportionately profited off their countrymen who simply wanted to ensure their families’ safety and health amid the pandemic,” adds Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

“We expect that overpricing may persist if the implementation of this Circular will not be strictly monitored. Potential violators need to be deterred. They need to know and see that infractions will be dealt and penalized accordingly,” ends the CIBAC lawmaker.

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva Lauds House OK of bill institutionalizing UP-DND accord

Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List Congressman and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva hails House approval on 3rd reading of House Bill 10171, a measure institutionalizing the University of the Philippines (UP)-Department of National Defense (DND) Accord.

As the bill inches closer to becoming law,

Deputy Speaker Villanueva, principal sponsor of the measure, is hopeful that its enactment would foster “more youth idealism” in the country.

“In these dark times of the pandemic, what the country needs is an abundance of the youth’s ideas for national recovery. Young people, especially mga iskolar ng bayan, must be encouraged, not discouraged, to be more vocal, more visible, and more vigorously participative in the national discourse. An ailing nation needs more of the youth’s ideas and idealism, not less. More young people speaking out, not less,” said Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

The accord was an agreement between UP and DND signed in 1988 which aimed to protect UP students, faculty, and personnel from military intervention in the exercise of academic freedom as enshrined in the UP charter. It was, however, unilaterally abrogated by DND last January 15 to ensure the safety of the UP students from claimed recruitment by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

“CIBAC believes that instead of security, the UP-DND abrogation strikes fear in students who may hold views critical or even just slightly off-tangent from the government’s stand on issues. Instead of cultivating academic freedom, it sows seeds of intimidation,” said the Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness.

“As our nation’s pride and premiere university, UP is a model of academic freedom to all educational institutions in the country. It’s being one of the world’s best universities is owed to its culture of openness to diversity of beliefs, debate of opinions, and discussion of viewpoints. By institutionalizing the UP-DND Accord to be part of the law of the land and not just an agreement left to the mercy of the executive, it will restore not only UP’s but even the Filipino people’s confidence in its commitment to promote the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of speech, expression, and peaceable assembly,” exlaims the CIBAC lawmaker.

The bill seeks, among others, to prevent state security forces (such as PNP and AFP) from entering and enforcing its operations in all UP campuses without prior notice to “the President or the Chancellor of the constituent university or the dean of the regional unit concerned” except “in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions or emergencies.”

It also prohibits members of the PNP, AFP, or any other law enforcement agencies from interfering with peaceful protest actions by individuals or groups within University premises. Likewise, it establishes a joint monitoring group composed of representatives from the government defense sector, security forces, and University officials to ensure compliance with the measure.

“This bill, once it becomes a law, will enhance and strengthen the foundation of liberty and sound democracy in our land, especially in the academe. Freedom in academia and in expressing oneself without fear of punishment are liberties directly emanating from our divinely ordained freedom of conscience. Government must respect the sacred character of these liberties under the law and before the very eyes of God Himself, the ultimate lawgiver. CIBAC is passionate about seeing this bill through until it finally becomes law,” concludes Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva laments non-livestreaming of e-sabong bill hearing; bares suicide

CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva laments non-livestreaming of e-sabong bill hearing; bares suicide cases due to online gambling

CIBAC Party-List Rep. and House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva laments the non-livestreaming of a committee hearing on an e-sabong (online cockfighting) bill “denying the public the chance to further scrutinize the measure.”

The CIBAC lawmaker moved for the deferral of the measure but was not supported by members of the Committee on Legislative Franchise. He said he would interpellate on the measure at the plenary deliberation.

At the hearing, Villanueva trumpeted anew his long-standing position on gambling: It’s anti-poor, anti-family, and anti-God. In addition, he stressed that it’s anti-life.

The CIBAC representative revealed that his office has so far received four reports of online gambling-related suicide—two from Bulacan and two from Pampanga. The suicide victims were reportedly deep in debt and experienced distress because of their gambling losses.

“CIBAC Party-list received reports of identifiable individuals who committed suicide because of their gambling troubles. They were not from rich families. They were common Filipinos who got hooked on e-sabong because of the game’s addictive allure. Today, they have been reduced to cautionary tales of what gambling actually does to a nation. Instead of promoting prosperity, gambling destroys lives, families, and communities,” he said.

“The effects of gambling and addiction to it are not only indisputably adverse but are also empirically established.” the CIBAC solon said. “In actuality, the fiscal benefits or gains that our government could have from allowing and taxing e-sabong is just a drop in the bucket and pale in comparison to the social costs that it will bring to our people.”

The bill in question is House Bill 10204, which will grant Visayas Cockers Club, Inc. franchise to operate offsite betting activities such as e-sabong. Villanueva lamented that a similar franchise bill for another e-sabong operator had previously been passed by the House “haphazardly, absent rigorous public scrutiny” and is now awaiting passage in the Senate.

Fearing the apparent mushrooming of e-sabong operators, the CIBAC congressman presented a University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center report indicating that “the availability of a casino within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers.”

Given this, Villanueva asked, “Paano pa po kaya kung gawin nating online ang gambling katulad nitong e-sabong kung saan ang pagsusugal ay hindi na nangangailangan ng pisikal na casino bagkus ay cellphone o internet connection na lang. Gaano kaya nito palalain ang problema ng pathological gambling sa ating bansa—lalo na sa mga mahihirap?”

“Given the risks of increasing accessibility to all kinds of persons, including minors, and a high chance of being addicted with it, should not our consciences be troubled if we allow and even encourage e-sabong to thrive in our country under our watch?”

The CIBAC representative also questioned PAGCOR for its seeming double-standards or lack of standard as to the government’s determination of which kinds and modes of gambling should be legalized. He also questioned its lack of empirical data on expected revenues from e-sabong and how they compare to revenues government could earn should gamblers spend their money on other taxable goods and services instead.

For Villanueva, the billions being touted as gambling revenue are deceptive, because in reality the poor are on the losing side of the equation.

“If government is expecting billions of revenues from e-sabong, does it not mean that we are making our people shell out trillions or more amount of money which they should have used in other more productive economically beneficial consumption or spending? After all, such same amount of money should have been injected in the economy and may even produce revenues for the government albeit in other forms, such as VAT and excise taxes,” he said.

Toward the hearing’s end, the Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness elevated his interpellation to a moral-spiritual argument by quoting from the Scriptures in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, which says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

The CIBAC lawmaker also cited Proverbs 10:4 which states that “lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

As real-world evidence of the biblical passage, Villanueva recalled the Resorts World casino attack in Pasay City on June 2, 2017 that left 37 people dead in the wake of a gambling addict’s rampage as he was found to be P4 million in gambling debt and separated from his wife.

“Iyan po ang epekto ng gambling through physical casinos. Gaano pa po kaya kalala at nakakatakot kung gagawin po nating online ang pagsusugal sa pamamagitan nitong e-sabong? This is essentially putting ‘casinos everywhere’ because we just diffused the betting sites and made it online so that it would be practically accessible to all. Worse, this will predominantly be ‘casinos for the poor,’ making the government a blind shepherd to masses of our people engaging in an addictive activity that will ultimately siphon off their hard-earned money.”

“Gambling is against God’s commands and thus invites many griefs to a person’s life. This ‘get rich quick’ formula has led many people astray and in despair. This world is already fraught with so many griefs. Let us not add more to it. Even the 10th commandment that God gave to mankind says, ‘Covet not your neighbor’s possessions and wife,’” Villanueva concluded.

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva marks birthday with resolve to continue fighting corruption; files

CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva marks birthday with resolve to continue fighting corruption; files CIBAC Party-List candidacy for the 2022 elections

House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva marks his birthday by filing the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list’s candidacy for the 2022 elections.

Represented by CIBAC officers during the filing on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness said that his passion for pursuing good governance and righteous leadership never wanes with age as CIBAC Party-List is steadfast to carry on with its advocacy of upholding accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the government.

CIBAC Party-List is a multisectoral organization that believes in the critical necessity of stamping corruption out of the government in order to drive genuine and inclusive development in the country. Prior to having Deputy Speaker Villanueva and Congressman Domeng Rivera as its current Representatives, CIBAC was first represented by its Party Chairman and President, then-Congressman-turned-TESDA Secretary, and now Senator Joel Villanueva in its early years. Subsequent Representatives of the Party-List include former Congressman Sherwin Tugna and Congresswoman Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales.

CIBAC has been instrumental in the enactment of significant anti-corruption laws in the country. This includes Republic Act (RA) 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Law, RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Law, RA 9189 or Overseas Absentee Voting Law, RA 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, RA 10149 or the GOCC Governance Law, RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Law, 11059 or the Strengthening of the Office of Ombudsman Law and RA 11746 or the GMRC and Values Education Law.

From its early beginnings until now, CIBAC Party-List has been in the lead in authoring and advocating for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which aims to boost public transparency and accountability by mandating that all government documents and transactions be made accessible to the people, except for few matters relating to national security.

“The enactment of a Freedom of Information law is indispensable in ushering the country into a new level of transparent and good governance. This is one of the driving reasons why CIBAC Party-List continues to participate in the periodic elections—to remain the voice of righteousness that promotes and advocates good, transparent, and effective governance,” says Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

The CIBAC lawmaker says that the fight against corruption is far from over, thus stressing the need for the anti-corruption party-list, CIBAC. He cites information from the Ombudsman, which states that around 20% of the national budget or approximately P700 billion is lost to corruption annually. With a simple calculation, CIBAC estimates that such amount “could have been put to good use as P1,000 ayuda or allowance to all of 111 million Filipinos six or seven times a year.” In addition, a study Global Corruption Barometer Asia 2020 says that 86% of Filipinos believe that corruption is a big problem in the government. Lastly, the 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showed that the Philippines scored 34 out of 100 (where 100 means very clean and 0 means highly corrupt), thus ranking 115th out of 180 countries.

“Empirical studies show that there is a positive correlation between corruption, poverty, and inequality. The higher the level of corruption, the higher the level of poverty and inequality. This is so because public funds that are supposed to be translated into meaningful programs and projects that will bring inclusive development and benefit and uplift the living standards of a greater number of people are diverted to the pockets of a few,” laments Villanueva.

“What is more worrying is that the Philippines has not made inroads or progress in its anti-corruption crusade in the last ten years. Its score in the annual CPI practically remains within the same level, indicating no significant progress. In fact, the country slid from rank 99th in 2018 into 113th in 2019 and eventually 115th in 2020.”

During the pandemic-ridden 18th Congress, CIBAC filed resolutions that directed inquiries and investigation into corruption scandals such as the PhilHealth fund management issue, expired and unutilized medicines in warehouses of the government health agency, the multi-billion unutilized and unexpended Bayanihan funds which expired, allegations of corruption in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry.

“We have seen how corruption in its various forms damages our people’s lives, families, livelihoods, and communities. Recent news on the corruption of COVID response funds should inspire every Filipino to all the more love the country and fight for national transformation,” Villanueva said.

CIBAC not only confines its advocacy against government corruption but also opposes measures that will contribute to moral corruption in the country. CIBAC is in staunch opposition to pornography, gambling, and legislation that weaken the cohesiveness of the Filipino family.

“CIBAC’s track record speaks for its dedication and passion to fight for what is best for the Filipinos. With CIBAC participating in the coming 2022 elections, I would like to reassure the nation that we will relentlessly continue our pursuit of upholding accountability in the use of public funds so that it will be utilized to obtain the maximum benefits for our people. So once more, we ask the support of our countrymen to bring back CIBAC Party-list in the Lower House of Congress. Tuloy ang laban!” ends the CIBAC solon.

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CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie welcomes Supreme Court decision penalizing psychologically abusive husbands

In celebration of World Mental Health Day, CIBAC Rep. Bro Eddie welcomes Supreme Court decision penalizing psychologically abusive husbands

In celebration of the World Mental Health Day, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva welcomes a recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling which affirms penalties for abusive, drunkard, philandering and psychologically-abusive husbands and says the High Tribunal decision is a great milestone in preserving Filipino marriages and families.

“We laud the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines for the decision which empowers Filipino women to protect and defend themselves from psychological torture inflicted by husbands who engage in immoral, extramarital relationships. Filipino mothers and wives deserve a better quality of life, a better quality of marriage, and a better quality of men,” said the CIBAC solon.

In the decision penned by now-retired Associate Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos and was publicized on Oct. 7, the SC ruled in favor of a wife who testified that she and her children endured her husband’s drinking and womanizing habits for more than two decades. Under punishment from RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act, which prohibits “causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the woman or her child” in Section 5 (i), the husband was sentenced for imprisonment up to eight years and was fined at least P100,000. He was also ordered to undergo psychological counseling.

“CIBAC believes that our society rejects immorality in relationships because Filipinos place a high value on the dignity of women and the peaceful development of children in a traditional home under the guidance of both parents. Scientific studies have proven that illicit relationships are damaging to the lifespan development of children and the mental health of the betrayed party. This is why Filipino culture, Philippine law, and Biblical wisdom are intolerant against unfaithfulness,” said Villanueva.

“On World Mental Health Day, may our precious Filipino wives and mothers be all the more inspired to protect their and their children’s psychological wellbeing. The laws of the land empower them to take action against abusive men. It is their duty to God and to their children to carve a serene path for their personal growth that is free from the toxicity of infidelity.”

At the House of Representatives, CIBAC authors House Bill No. 577 or the Anti-Marital Infidelity Bill, a measure similar to the intention of the recent SC ruling, which seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code’s provisions on marital infidelity by eliminating a long-observed double-standard that renders the male spouse less vulnerable to conviction.

“A psychologically healthy marriage is a product of faithful partnership between the husband and the wife. With the SC decision in place and, hopefully, with the eventual passage of Anti-Marital Infidelity Bill, we hope to strengthen and promote the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing of Filipino mothers and wives as well as families,” said the Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness.

World Mental Health Day is celebrated as an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma every 10th of October.