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Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Malilong: Cybersex and open prostitution
By Frank Malilong Jr.
The Other Side
I get the impression that we’re more bothered by women exposing themselves before web cameras than those offering sex in the streets. And it befuddles me.
If prostitution is the oldest profession, cybersex is only a more recent field of specialization. In both cases, the woman trades her flesh for money.
The prostitute offers pleasure through actual physical contact, an element that is not present in cybersex where the woman gratifies her chatmate by baring her breasts and other private parts. In that sense, prostitution is more dangerous to society because it can lead to the spread of sex-related diseases like Aids.
So why are we running after Internet cafes and so-called electronic sex dens while turning a blind eye to the women of the streets and their pimps? Why ignore the obvious and go great lengths in discovering something that is hidden?
Drive around certain sections of the city like the Kamagayan and Juana Osmena St. starting at 10 p.m. if you want to see what I mean. Try slowing down in these areas and as sure as the sun rises in the east, people will swarm upon you, bearing indecent proposals.
I am not saying that we should not stop the trafficking of women through the Internet. The practice is a disgrace to the nation and all the people involved, from the maintainers of the electronic sex dens to the women themselves, should be punished. But we should pay equal, if not more, attention to the open and brazen peddling of sexual pleasures because that is an even bigger disgrace.
***
Here we go again. President Arroyo has hinted that a plebiscite will be held to determine the fate of her proposed charter change and shift in the form of government.
I am not against the notion of amending the Constitution or changing our form of government. But let us do it the right way.
As any law student knows, a plebiscite is the second stage in the amendment or change of the Constitution, the first being the proposal. You cannot hold a plebiscite without a proposal having been validly made. That would be like putting the cart before the horse.
A proposal to amend the constitution can be made directly by Congress, acting as a constituent assembly (ConAss) or by a constitutional convention (Concon) or through a people’s initiative while a proposal to change it can be done only through a ConCon or the ConAss.
Unless the Senate is willing to sign its death warrant, the possibility of convening a ConCon or the ConAss is out of the question. Malacañang’s only chance of making its Cha-cha dream come true is in people’s initiative. But the Supreme Court has declared it unavailable unless Congress passes the required implementing law. Is Arroyo counting on the High Court declaring that they were wrong the first time?
(fmmalilong@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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