Rape men can filed charges, according to Women and Children Protection Center Police Brigadier General William Macavinta. #malerape #violenceagainstmen

More or less 300 men were raped from January to July this year.

Women and Children Protection Center Police Brigadier General William Macavinta made the report before the House committee on gender and equality during its hearing Monday on the amendment of Republic Act (RA) 9262 otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.

“Would you believe for this year alone… We have recorded more or less 300 incidents of rape against men?” Macavinta told the panel chaired by Bukidnon 1st District Rep. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba. “Indeed, men are not exempted from abuse,” Macavinta

When asked by South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles how does his department address cases of battered men, Macavinta replied, “We have encountered several cases like that. We find it really funny but it is really happening on the ground.”

According to the official, abused males can avail of the existing laws such as the Revised Penal Code but he also admitted that in cases such as this, women and children are priority.

“When they are battered, they can file physical injuries,” he said.

Among the bills tackled by the panel is House Bill 4888 filed by Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles.

The said bill aims to amend RA 9262 by expanding its coverage to include men and members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community who suffer violence from their partners.

The bill penalizes acts of violence against partners including but not limited to physical violence, sexual violence and economic abuse.

In his sponsorship speech, Nograles told the panel that the bill he filed aims to recognize different kinds of relationships, as he said men and members of LGBT community should also be protected from violence.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas raised her concerns against the passage of this proposed measure as she further stressed the need for solid data to back the legislation.

“Ginawa VAWC particularly for women dahil meron po siyang pinanggalingan,” said Brosas.

“The numbers of women that were battered, the numbers of women and children that were affected and nagkaron po ;yan ng mahabang kasaysayan bago naipasa at hindi po siya talaga nag-a-address particularly sa partners because even the Supreme Court said na sa power relations ng babae at lalaki, hindi ‘yan pantay with the current conditions na meron tayo,” she said.

Brosas has asked for data particularly on how many men were abused by men and how many men were abused by women and by their partners.

Macavinta told the panel that men are also prostituted citing pedophiles victimizing male minors.

The panel agreed to conduct further discussions on the bill and invite more resource persons for a thorough discussion on the matter.

On the same day, the panel approved the consolidated version of the bills defining electronic violence against women and their children, amending RA 9262 and substitute bill stemming from bills ensuring the fundamental equality of men and women, and amending Executive Order 209 otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines.