Cotabato mayor faces sexual harassment charges

Published by rudy Date posted on June 6, 2009

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

Sept 5 – Oct 5
National Teachers Month

“Pay teachers decent wages,
Pay attention to teachers!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

September


Monthly Observances:

Health, Safety, and Sanitation Month
Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month

National Peace Consciousness Month

Social Security Month

Rule of Law Month

National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 5)

 

Weekly Observances:

Sept 17 – 23:

World Clean and Green Week

Week 2: Education Week

Week 4: Medicine Week

Last Week: Family Week


Daily Observances:

Third Saturday: International Coastal Clean-up Day

Third Monday: World Health Day

Last Friday: National Maritime Day

Sept 8: National Literacy Day

Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.