Gabriela ignores Chavit’s call

Gabriela representative Lisa Maza, in a statement, condemned Chavit Singson’s act of violence against his common-law-wife, Che Tiongson, as “barbaric” and one that he should pay for.

"Whether at fault ang babae or not, to hurt her physically is a violation of her rights," said Maza.

Singson, the Deputy National Security Adviser of the Arroyo Government, had asked Gabriela, an organization that addresses human rights issues affecting women, not to shelter or extend support to Tiongson because she allegedly was at fault when he hurt her on Aug. 22.

In interviews, he implied that his act was justified because he caught Tiongson with another man, a former ABS-CBN employee.

“Nahuli ko (sila) sa apartment namin. Buti nga di ko pa pinatay eh,” Singson said in a “TV Patrol” interview.

The same news program featured Tiongson showing the bruises on her face and other parts of the body that she got from the beating.

Che Tiongson had sought the help of Gabriela which took on her case after having her undergo psychological assessment.

“Latigo ang ginamit niya (Singson). Bigla na lang niya 'kong linatigo. Ang lakas ng palo niya, parang gusto niya akong patayin,” Tiongson alleged.

She added that Singson also had a gun at the time.

It happened, Che said, while she was at the dinner table with her boyfriend.

Tiongson pointed out that her relationship with Chavit has long been over. “Ang akin kasi bakit ko naman sasabihin sa kanya (about my boyfriend) e wala na naman kami? Naging discreet naman ako, di naman ako lantaran.”

She said she still could not believe that a man she initially thought was a “gentleman, generous, thoughtful” would eventually hurt her.

Singson has another version of the matter altogether.

On “Umagang Kay Ganda” last Sept. 4, Singson said he did not beat up Tiongson but only hurt her.

He also denied he and Tiongson are separated. In an ABS-CBN interview, he showed Tiongson’s letters to him with such messages as “Hi love” and “Miss you.”

Singson revealed that before her current lover, Tiongson had an affair with actor Cogie Domingo.

As the two camps continue to give differing statements, the case of Violence Against Women and Children against Singson has already been filed at the Quezon City Hall of Justice.

Che had filed a petition for protection. “Sira ulo na siguro ako, o tanga kung babalik pa ako (kay Chavit),” she said.