Men like Chavit belong to the old world of bosses and strongmen. Their strength is built on guns, wealth, and loyal men under their payroll. Men like them enrich themselves through all sorts of illegal activities like smuggling and gambling. They have legitimate enterprises but these too enjoy short cuts with the law and provide cover for the other. They move in elite circles, rub elbows with the rich and famous. They are allies of powerful people from whom they enjoy protection, and with whom they are partners in crime.

Men like Chavit use their iron hand without hesitation on people who offend them or cast doubts on their invincibility. They use this hand on business competitors, people they cannot win over through material offers, even former friends who they believe double-crossed them. This, exactly, is what happened to Erap. Threatened that his hold over gambling operations in Ilocos Sur would be taken away by the gambling franchise Erap was handing over to Atong Ang, Chavit turned state witness against his buddy and helped boot him out of the presidency. The brave souls from Ilocos Sur who raised their voice against the corrupt practices of the former governor suffered a worse fate. They have been silenced forever.

Young and beautiful women are mere etchings on their armor for men like Chavit. They woo their women and deceive them with their gallant behavior. Then they hold these women captive in their private zoos.

“Hindi ka nag-iisa!,” belongs to Ninoy. Men like Chavit live by another code: “Huwag mo akong isahan!” Do that and they will make your life miserable. You will be punished.

“Punished” is how Chavit Singson explained to his children why he beat up their mother, Rachel Tiongson. Punished for the indiscretions of having a boyfriend while he himself has a string of young women who satiate his worldly desires. Punished for seeking a life outside of his. Punished for biting the hand that feeds her. Whipped like one of his animals in his wildlife sanctuary in Vigan.

Chavit cannot fathom the wrong he has done against this person, the mother of his children. His belligerent stance is backed up by society’s double standard that allows men their worldly excesses while censuring women for the same. The same double standard expects wives, even ex-common-law, to be faithful and subservient to their husbands, despite the latter’s philandering and abuse. But Chavit’s ultimate power lies in his power of the purse. This makes it easy for him to portray his wife as a scheming gold digger, if not an idiotic and frivolous woman who does not spend his money wisely. Whichever is closer to the truth, he was wrong to cause her grave physical harm.

Men like Chavit do not believe that inflicting violence on their female partners, no matter how justified they feel they are, no matter the private or personal reasons, constitutes a particular crime called violence against women (VAW). Such violence committed primarily and historically against women especially in the domestic setting (where women are traditionally confined) is addressed in various laws dealing with rape, sexual harassment, assault and trafficking of persons. Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti‑Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, in particular, penalizes any act or series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his wife or former wife, or with whom he has or had a sexual dating relationship, or with whom he has a common child (note: all these criteria apply to Tiongson). Penalized acts include economic abuse, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. The law is also sympathetic to possible aberrant behavior of the abused spouse if she is suffering from “the battered wife syndrome.”

All elements of these various laws have been put together in the Magna Carta of Women, freshly signed by Macapagal-Arroyo last month.

The notion of laws against VAW is alien to Chavit, who believes he“owns” his women and feels free to do as he pleases with them. Besides, men like him are not used to following the law. In most aspects of their lives, they have lived outside of and beyond the law. So the supreme irony for Chavit now is that for all his crimes, he will be penalized for one that, in his worldview, is as petty as beating up a woman.

When Chavit bragged that he was merciful enough not to kill Tiongson and her boyfriend , he admitted to the whole world that having people killed is well within his capacity and order of business. He also showed how righteously he believed he has this right, the authority to order someone’s execution. And who were those men who would have readily carried out the order? They apparently also enjoy impunity.

Of course Chavit won’t even consider going on leave from his post as Deputy National Security Adviser. He didn’t get the job because he was a law-abiding citizen. Why should he step down now because he is accused of breaching it? In his code of conduct, shame and the wrath of the law are suffered only by the weak. Many in government think that way, too, and many men among them like Bert Gonzales probably even secretly wish they were at least half the “man” that Chavit is.

When they die, men like Chavit will be eulogized. Famous people will send their wreaths, thankful for the help and friendship that boosted their own fortunes. Small folk will remember the small coins thrown their way, unaware that one reason they remain poor is because men like these are bastardizing the government.

And so this old breed of men lives on, despite inroads in campaigns for women’s rights, new politics and the rule of law. They thrive because the political system has use for their support and participation. They prosper because society continues to hold their power and wealth in awe.

E-mail: mcf178@yahoo.com