The Supreme Court clarified that violence against women and children applies to lesbian relationships. This is in line with a petition filed by the defendant against her partner regarding physical abuse. Court records stated that the partner was hospitalized multiple times as the defendant allegedly crushed her partner’s wrist using a car door over an argument.
The defendant filed for a criminal charge of violation of RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) to debunk the partner’s claims as the law does not apply to lesbian relationships.
During the Supreme Court ruling, Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting denied the petition, stating that this is similar to a previous ruling in the 2013 Garcia vs. Drilon case.
The lower court discarded the motion because according to section 3(a) of RA 9262, the law uses the gender-neutral term ‘person,’ giving light that this covers lesbian relationships.
Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Samuel Gaerlan, and Maria Filomena Singh all agreed with Inting that the petition should be denied. Justice Singh added that the law ‘protects all women without qualification.’
Sources: Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Philippine Star, Lawphil.net
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