Cop exec fined P20,000 for sexual harassment

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has found a police official guilty of sexually harassing a policewoman seven years ago.

Superintendent Cesario Darantinao Jr., former Davao del Sur police office chief, was ordered to pay a fine of P20,000 for touching the hands, embracing and trying to kiss the victim, who had the rank of Police Officer 3 at the time.

Records of the case show that the incidents occurred in a vehicle and at the Davao del Sur police office when Darantinao and the victim arrived from a wedding party.

“These acts can be readily perceived as… sexual harassment because they involve unwelcome sexual advances – a request or demand for a sexual favor which are definitely offensive to complainant, if not extremely embarrassing or discomforting,” the anti-graft court’s ruling stated.

“Complainant’s account of her unpleasant if not harrowing experience brought upon her by accused can hardly be doubted,” it added.

The Sandiganbayan said a P20,000 fine is enough because Darantinao did not use much force, adding the victim could have insisted on not going to the party, which led to the sexual advances.

“Accused advances went only as far as touching her hands and embracing her and did not progress into something more serious as actually being able to kiss or rape her,” Sandiganbayan Fifth Division chairman Roland Jurado stated in his ruling. –Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)