Cotabato mayor faces sexual harassment charges

ASKING for a date through text messages could make a mayor liable for sexual harassment.

This was after a sexual harassment case was filed before the Sandigan­bayan against a Cotabato town mayor who defended himself by saying that “he had fallen in love” with the complainant after sending text messages and making phone calls.

In a two-page information of the Office of the Ombudsman before the Anti-Graft Court,

Alamada, Cotabato Mayor Ernesto Concepcion was charged with sexual harassment for allegedly soliciting sexual favors from complainant Rhea Orejudos.

Ombudsman Prosecutor Ma. Cla­rissa Muego recommended the filing of the charge that was approved by acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro.

The information avers that the incident happened on July 16, 2007, when the accused “willfully, unlawfully and criminally” requested and required sexual favors from Orejudos, contractual employee of the municipality assigned to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In the findings of the Ombudsman, it pointed out that the accused is a municipal mayor, who exercises authority, influence and moral ascendancy over the employees of the municipality including the complainant.

He admitted that he fell in love with the complainant and on separate instances sent her text messages, called on her cell phone and invited her to dinner.

However, these acts of the accused constitute sexual harassment that resulted to an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment for the complainant.

With this, the complainant resigned from her work.

As stated in the complaint, the accused “claimed that he had fallen in love with Orejudos and on separate instances sent her text messages, called her on her cell phone and invited her to dinner, which acts of the accused constitute sexual harassment that resulted to an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment for Orejudos, who eventually resigned from her employment.”

The mayor defended himself by saying that being close to women was just his nature. He said he is close to many girls but don’t make sexual advances toward them.

Concepcion said the alleged filing of charges against him was politically motivated. But the complainant and another alleged victim of sexual harassment by the mayor debunked the mayor’s claims.

However, the Ombudsman found probable cause against him to constitute the filing of the case before the Anti-Graft Court.A P6,000 bail was recommended by the Office of the Ombudsman for the temporary release of the mayor. –Jomar Canlas, Manila Times