The ‘other woman’: Mistresses should be penalized

The song “Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang” is the universal alibi of people engaged in extramarital affairs. They resort to all sorts of justifications for what they do, which can lead to the disintegration of the family and the separation of spouses.

Who initiates the first move? I have talked to estranged wives and even to some “other women,” and this is what I discovered: 1) An ideal husband who is devoted to his family was seduced by a young woman. The husband went crazy over her, which ended in the separation of the couple. The “querida” started it all. 2) A woman kept stalking a married man even at the workplace. Finally the husband succumbed to her temptations, mainly due to the “kantiyaw” of his colleagues and friends. The querida started it all.

Can we make a conclusion that some husbands unknowingly fall into this trap without the intention of ruining their marriage? Can we say that the “other woman” pursue unwilling husbands as their victims no matter who gets hurt in the process? Wives and mothers have endless duties at home, taking care of the household and children, or at work if employed. That is in stark contrast to the other woman, who only has to make herself attractive each time she meets her lover.

I wonder, why don’t we include these mistresses in the imposition of penalty once found guilty of breaking the peace at home? Why are they not penalized especially if they deliberately destroy marriages, including those that are just civilly married? It’s high time every erring woman suffered the consequences of her act. Is there any possibility of creating concrete legislative measures to punish the party that destroys the sanctity of marriage vows?

REMA TAN-MANZANO, Ph.D., DTM
Chair, Morality in Media, Daughters of Mary Immaculate International, Las Piñas City
District Director-Elect, Metro Manila South District, Soroptimist International Las Piñas Central