ILLINOIS, USA – President Rodrigo Duterte, known for some sexiest jokes and controversial remarks against women then and might even now (like me), has signed into law Republic Act 11313 of Safe Spaces Act, commonly called ‘Anti-Bastos’ Law.
The law says: “Crimes of gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment are committed through any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person regardless of the motive for committing such action or remarks. Gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassments include catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent uninvited comments or gestures on a person’s appearance, relentless respects for personal details, statement of sexual comments and suggestion, public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping or any advances, whether verbal or physical that is unwanted and has threatened one’s sense of personal space such as alleys, roads, sidewalks, and parks.”
Now that by just catcalling or wolf-whistling is considered a criminal offense punishable by either fine or imprisonment, we only expect that would-be offenders will now think twice before committing such act which is common practice among street guys with bastos mentality.
Our women and young generation are now safe from unsavory remarks in and outside of their homes as every word in that new law protects would-be victims from being harassed.
And for the local government units to effectively implement the law may now pass localize ordinances to suit the local situation as each unit may have its own interpretation of the national law.
But foremost, information dissemination to the public should be the first act of the day in every city, town, and municipality before eager law enforcers apprehend violators.
My only concern here is what if the ‘Anti-Bastos’ law will only be on paper for lack of implementation as what usually happens to some good laws that land in the archives.
Imagine the long awaited law that will protect our women and young generation from being harassed is now a reality and made possible by no less than the President himself.
Iba na talaga kaming tumatanda. Nagkakaisip na! Hehe.
-o0o-
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is not alone when he promised earlier that his priority bill in the Senate will be the restoration of death penalty to illegal drugs offenders, or other heinous crimes, if his colleagues will call for it.
The Philippine lawmaker’s thinking is aligned with US President Donald Trump who announced plans of considering resuming death penalty and ordered executing federal prisoners awaiting death penalty. The last execution was in 2003.
Anti-capital punishment groups vowed to fight Trump administration decision, insisting that federal death penalty cases are infected with many of the same problems as state executions.
I agree to that. But just like in our country where there are groups pretending to be God fearing but practice evil deed, they can’t blame us to doubt their motives in denouncing the restoration of capital punishment.
But at the end of the day, it’s still the victims and their families that should be given consideration in getting justice they deserved. Let the rules of law prevail. Sa Tagalog pa: Kung buhay ang inutang, dapat buhay rin ang kabayaran!
-o0o-
A mother who is 10 years younger my age suffered dementia that is common disease for elderly.
The family decided to put her under the care of a government institution here after she became uncontrollable and could not even recognize her own husband.
What a pity because I saw on the face of the husband when I met him one morning last week the feeling of being separated from one you love in that condition. A feeling his children also shared with him even in their work place and sleeping moment.
Many causes of Alzheimer or dementia are from strokes, heart disease, diabetics, or depression. But this mental decline may also attribute to older prostate cancer patients given hormone-blocking treatment, according to a large government-funded analysis.
Hormone-blocking treatment can include testes removal to reduce levels of testosterone which fuels prostate cancer growth, researchers reported.
Among 154,000 older patients, 13% who received hormone-blocking treatment developed Alzheimer’s, compared with 9% who had other treatment or chose no therapy, the study found.
May you have an enjoyable and safe weekend, Davaoenos!
