After catching them in bed: Chavit faces raps for beating wife, lover

Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson could be liable under a law penalizing violence against women and children for beating up his common-law wife after he found them in bed.

Lorna Kapunan, United Nations Development Fund for Women Philippine National Committee legal counsel, said Singson could face charges for violating Republic Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.

Speaking after the launching of the UN’s White Ribbon Campaign in Makati on Sept. 3, Kapunan said violence against women cannot be justified whether done against a paramour or a legal wife.

Under the law, violence against women is not limited to physical harm but extends to emotional and psychological injuries, she added.

Kapunan said violence against women also occurs when the husband fails to provide economic support to his family.

Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza agreed with Kapunan that Singson must be held liable for beating up his common-law wife.

“By Singson’s own admission that he did beat his live-in partner and said that she was even lucky because she was alive shows that he may be liable under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law,” she said.

Maza, co-author of RA 9262, said any form of violence against women must be condemned, much more if committed by a public official like Singson.

“In a macho society, women are treated as objects and possessions of men, that is why a law such as Anti-VAWC is in place to protect women from violence and abuse that emanates from this view,” she said.

Singson earlier said he had no regrets in hurting “Che,” the woman with whom he has five children.

“Mabait pa nga ako, hindi ko sila pinatay (I was still good, I did not kill them),” Singson said.
Che filed a complaint against Singson for domestic violence and physical abuse.

But Singson said Che is using the issue for extortion. “I will never settle with her,” he said.
Singson appealed to women’s rights activists not to help Che. He requested the groups “not to let themselves be used for extortion activities.”

Singson said the only thing that concerns him at the moment is the welfare of their five children

Singson showed to reporters at his residence in Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City an envelope of “evidence” against Che and her lover, which, according to him, showed them “in an incriminating situation.”

He said the two were caught in the evening of Aug. 21 in the apartment unit in Quezon City that he had acquired for Che.

He said it was not the first time that Che had cheated on him. Singson said he had previously caught Che with another younger man in a motel.

“Pinalayas ko na siya noon (I kicked her out),” Singson said. He added Che had asked for his forgiveness and his permission to see their five children.

Singson said he forgave Che “for the sake of our children” – who, according to him are aged 16, 13, 12, 9 and 7.

“Eventually, she requested me to get an apartment where she could stay. I agreed and then she asked for (financial) support again,” he said.

“I also told her that if ever she would go back to living with me, I would have her monitored and she agreed to this,” Singson said.

Singson said he was tipped off by a friend to monitor Che’s activities. After two months of surveillance, he confirmed Che was seeing another man.

The former Ilocos Sur governor even described size of the penis of Che’s lover as one for the books.

“Pinakamaliit na ari ang nakita ko, pang Guinness Book of World Records (It was so tiny, it can qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records),” he remarked.

Singson said he made an excuse of going home to Vigan.

“Because then I knew that they would use the opportunity to meet each other again in my absence and so I caught them in the act,” he said.