The Department of Education has filed administrative charges against five out of seven teachers allegedly involved in the sexual harassment of learners in Bacoor, Cavite.
In a press briefing, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said the filing of cases followed the initial investigation on conversations allegedly initiated by the teachers, supposedly showing sexually-motivated invitations, that have surfaced on online platforms.
“I guess the question is why only five were charged out of the seven. When we spoke with the schools division office and legal department, they said there was not enough evidence yet to include the two others in the complaint. That’s why we were only able to press charges against the five,” he said.
The five teachers were charged with grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of DepED Order 40, series of 2012.
The charges come with a 90-day preventive suspension for the five teachers, as well as their right to choose either “proceedings by position paper only or by trial,” Poa said.
Poa again urged victims to come forward and file complaints to strengthen the case and ensure adequate measures for safe learning spaces in schools.
“We are calling on victims of alleged sexual harassment to come out and give your affidavit, statement, or evidence so that we can file formal charges,” he said.
The public, whether complainants or concerned individuals, may send their reports to depedabusereport@gmail.com, or via their hotline numbers at 8633-1942, 8635-9817, and 09959218461.
Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Resolution 168 seeking an investigation into reports of sexual harassment in schools.
The resolution urges the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality to conduct the probe with the end in view of “creating safe spaces for students that are conducive for their learning and making perpetrators accountable for the consequences of their actions, consistent with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act.”
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, is the principal author of the Safe Spaces Act.
She cited the reported incidents of harassment and abuse involving teachers at the Bacoor National High School in Cavite, St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City, and the Philippine High School for the Arts in Los Baños, Laguna.
“I am sure incidents of violence, abuse, and harassment are not only happening in these schools. Often, victim-survivors do not report because their abusers are persons of authority. How many more of our students are suffering in silence? We can’t just let this go,” she said.