Cong. Benjo Benaldo, kinumpirmang kasal na sila ni Daiana Menezes; isyu ng domestic violence, nilinaw

Binasag na ni outgoing Cagayan de Oro Congressman Jose Benjamin “Benjo” Benaldo ang kanyang pananahimik hinggil sa usap-usapang domestic violence diumano sa pagsasama nila ng Brazilian model turned TV personality na si Daiana Menezes. Nagpadala ng email si Benaldo sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ngayong Huwebes, June 13, upang bigyang-linaw ang sinasabing pananakit diumano niya kay Daiana. Nagsimula ang kontrobersiya nang mag-post ng sunud-sunod na mga mensahe si Daiana sa kanyang Ito ay kasunod ng sunud-sunod na pagpu-post ni Daiana ng mga mensahe at mga larawan sa kanyang Instagram na nagpapahiwatig na dumaranas siya ng pananakit. “WE FOUGHT BECAUSE OF LOVE.” Sa email ni Benaldo sa media, inamin niyang nagkakaroon sila ng di pagkakaunawaan ni Daiana, gaya ng ibang mag-asawa. Dito rin inamin ni Benaldo na ikinasal sila ni Daiana sa Las Vegas noong December 2012. Bagama’t hindi siya nagdetalye kung umabot sa pisikalan ang kanilang pag-aaway, ipinahayag ng pulitiko na humingi na siya ng paumanhin sa kanyang kabiyak. Sabi ni Benaldo, “I am responding to the issues that have recently come out. “I am speaking with the consent of my partner [Daiana]. “Like any couple, Daiana and I encounter problems. We try to resolve them privately. “I have apologized to her and she has accepted." Dagdag pa niya, “On behalf of Daiana's actions on social media (Twitter, Instagram), we seek the understanding of everyone regarding her posts on her advocacies seeking help and support. “I believe that any woman, any foreigner (woman) who might be facing a situation worse than ours must find an avenue for the redress of her grievances in our country.    “Daiana and I got married civilly in Las Vegas. Since then, we have been preparing for the big religious ceremony as we previously announced. “Today, Daiana and I have settled our differences. “We are together out of love. We fought because of love. “She has forgiven me because she truly loves me. I am truly blessed. “We thank our friends & relatives for their patience and support. We thank everyone for respecting our privacy,” pagtatapos ng liham. Nobyembre ng nakaraang taon nang mailathala dito sa PEP ang engagement ni Daina sa pulitiko. DAIANA’S PLIGHT. Nagkaroon ng haka-haka ang ilan hinggil sa pinagdadaanan ni Daiana nang mag-post ito noong June 8 na mga katagang “The End” at may caption na “Good night.” Sumunod na araw, June 9, Linggo, isang photo uli ang ipinost ng model na may nakasulat na “No To Rape,” at ang tanging caption nito ay sad face. Sinundan ito ng isa pang post ng larawan ng singsing na ang anino ay brass knuckles at may nakasulat na “No to Violence Against Women.” Ang naka-caption dito ay “#NOtoDomesticViolence #NOtoRape. Till death do us apart…’   Mayroon ding kasunod na dalawang umiiyak na emoticon ang post na ito at ang isa ay may gag pa sa bibig. Basahin: DSWD, nag-alok ng tulong kay Daiana Menezes kung nakararanas ito ng pang-aabuso   VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Isang follower ni Daiana ang nag-comment ng, “I feel you…I am with you…” Sinagot ito ni Daiana ng, “@didicamiling I’m tired of keeping it to myself already.” May isang follower naman na nagtanong ng, “Is your boyfie hurting you?” Pero hindi ito sinagot ni Daiana. Ang sumunod pang larawan na ipinaskil ni Daiana ay ang kanyang braso na tila may hiwa ng sugat. Ang tanging caption lang nito ay tatlong smiley characters na umiiyak at ang isa ay pusong nabiyak. Meron na itong 44 comments na nagtatanong kung ano nga ba ang nangyari sa kanya pero wala ni isang sinagot si Daiana.   Kasunod niyang post dito ay isang imahe ng babae na nakayakap sa sarili at may malaking X na pula, nakasulat dito ang mga salitang ‘Real Men Don’t use Violence.’ Sumunod pang post ni Daiana ng larawang may nakasulat na ‘Stop Violence Against Women.’ Naka-caption dito ang mga salitang, “Lord Please I can’t take this anymore, I’m all by myself here, prayers are much appreciated. But sa totoo lang THANK YOU PO LORD I’M STILL ALIVE.” Isang follower niya na nagngangalang "prettycycle" and nagtanong nang, “Amiga what happen to you? Sinagot ito ni Daiana ng, “I dunno y Filipino men can be…I have no words.” Isa pang sagot ni Daiana sa isang follower, sinabi nitong, “Exactly they should respect the pain it’s not right to expose anymore its too Much to take.” Sa sumunod na post ni Daiana ay larawan niya at may caption na, “Thank you God I Have a decent job. Good family who gave the best on education, thank you to my parents for bringing me to tha most expensive schools and encourage me to keep humble above all comfort and for their politeness. I’m a gifted child of lord.’ Halos ang mga comment dito ay nagsasabing keep safe at isa na nga sa kanila ay si Sunshine Cruz. Ang isa sa mga pinakahuling posts ni Daiana ay photo note na nagsasaad kung ako ang kanyang pinagdadaanan. Narito ang nilalaman ng kanyang post: “I am aware of the posts and they’re aren’t cool. How can they be cool? But keep silent isn’t the best anymore after I heard that they’d believe me only seeing with their own eyes. So time to SPEAK UP. My apologies to those I had to ignore or not give details, even if I do, aside from looking DUMB MYSELF, I wish I had CCTV or if I knew, record would do, but ‘ang sakit’, it’s a physical, sexual and emotional pain that can’t be explained. Besides there are two sides of the coin and I know the other side will fight for defense, since there’s bipolar order, things can be turned around. I had witnesses BUT unfortunately they’re paid to keep quiet.” "Enough said" ang naka-caption sa nasabing photo. May 29 comments na ito pero wala pang sinagot si Daiana dito. Sumunod na post ay isang larawan niya na may nakasulat na, “Just wanna explore the world where I’ll see life in a different way.” “Positivity is the peace God gives us,’ ang kanyang caption dito.” -- Eva May Robles/Arniel C. Serato, PEP