Philippine Presidential Sister Kris Aquino Again Holds the Country in a Standstill

In an interview with a local news program TV Patrol on Thursday night, actress-host Kris Aquino, sister of Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino announced that she was resigning from show business. The controversial Philippine Queen of all Media told interviewer Ted Failon that she chooses to do what is best for her son, and at this point that means leaving the entertainment business and sacrificing her career.

Controversial once again

Kris Aquino is one of the most popular television personalities in the country and was once box office queen. With numerous shows on primetime TV as well as a variety of endorsement deals, she is very visible to the public eye. The many controversies that characterized her private life served as tabloid fodder and now, yet another private matter is turning out to be another public spectacle.

And since a Kris Aquino controversy is typically full of intrigue, the media has full coverage of every comment and even the littlest developments are updated on online news flash. It is now one of the trending topics of discussions among netizens. And public opinion is divided.

Kris vs. James

This very recent conflict with former husband, basketball player James Yap, has put Kris Aquino and her prominent family in the limelight again. In the past few days, local news stations are rife with interviews of her and her estranged husband. Both of them shed tears in public and they openly shared details on the event in question that agree on very few points.

The couple was wed in July 2005 in a civil ceremony. On February 2012, their marriage was annulled by civil court. Kris sought legal separation after a scandal in July 2010 and accused her then husband of infidelity. Yap reportedly got millions from the settlement.

Gag order

Both camps have now been ordered by a Makati court to refrain from making any more pronouncements. The gag order was issued on the former couple as well as their equally popular lawyers—Lorna Kapunan and Frank Chavez.

The court issued a gag order along with the request of Yap to issue a hold departure order on Aquino. Aquino had already requested for a temporary protection order to shield herself and their son, James Yap, Jr. called Bimby, from any approach from Yap. When the court granted this petition, Yap’s emotional reaction was seen on television and started the barrage of interviews on him and his former wife, starting another media circus starring very familiar names and faces.

An interview with Jessica Soho from another prominent local TV station showed a distraught Kris Aquino who responded to questions frankly, giving an account of what happened during the abusive episode. This interview was aired one day after Yap’s reaction to the temporary protection order was reported. The interview was not received very well by Yap and his camp, saying in not so many words that the famous TV host was out of line.

Proper venue

The issue between Yap and Aquino involved the latter’s complaint of her former husband overstepping his boundaries during a routine visit to their son in December 3, 2012. The visits were part of the agreement that was set down during after the annulment. Aquino said that in the course of the visit, Yap tried to seduce her and in the process caused infliction of psychological harm to the child who witnessed the harassment.

The very public exchange of bitter words and sharing of information via the media on what is a private family matter is being criticized by some as improper conduct of both parties. The question of whether Aquino has been advised well by her lawyer crops up especially since the case involves domestic violence which is supposed to be heard in a court of law, and not be a public spectacle which is what it had become.

Cases of violence against women ought to be confidential and the right to privacy of the victim should be the priority of those who are attending to the case—from the barangay officials who initially receive the report to hospital staff involved in the care of the abused. Failure to comply with the provisions of Section 44 entails a possible penalty of a year of imprisonment with a cash fine. This case, though involving famous personalities, should have followed the same process.

No HDO for Kris and Bimby

After Aquino announced her resignation, Yap petitioned the court for a hold departure order (HDO) to prevent Kris and his son Bimby from leaving the country. But the petition of Yap for the court to grant a hold departure order to Aquino was not granted by court. On Friday afternoon, mother and child have been given the go to leave the country for a vacation. The two are leaving on Saturday. The decision was released just a few hours after the gag order on the warring camps was issued.

Yap’s case

As a consequence of the court decision, Yap revealed that he is apprehensive that he may not see his five-year old son again, sharing his views in an interview. He fears that Kris might decide not to return to the country anymore. He earlier expressed frustration on what he thinks as brainwashing on Bimby which is gradually causing the boy to feel animosity towards him. Yap also said that his former wife posed a threat and even invoked the name of her brother, the President of the country in a phone conversation. Kris Aquino denied ever stating a veiled threat and in an interview along with her sisters they all cried foul on this accusation.

Who is to blame?

One of the dominant opinions pertaining to the matter is that it should not have been made very public, especially since the issue involves a possible case of violence against women and children. Both parties involved may have received ill advice, or did not receive advice at all on the repercussions of their very revealing media appearances. The Filipino public has a habit of devouring every controversy involving public figures. And when the Queen of all Media is involved, they already expect that the details would be juicy. And the media would naturally supply what the public demands. A child is caught in between this time. Whose responsibility is it to shield him from public scrutiny? And whose fault is it that a family matter is now public property?