The Civil Service Commission is being pressed to back the filing of indirect contempt charges against the board of regents of the Technological University of the Philippines sitting on a 90-day suspension order against the school president in a sexual harassment case.
In a statement, Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said TUP president Godofredo Gallega has been ordered by the commission grounded following the complaint of an assistant professor in December 2007.
“We absolutely support the victim. We laud her courage and determination in pursuing the appropriate legal actions in the interest of justice,” she said.
But the governing board has dug in, deferring Gallega’s suspension because of a pending review before the Court of Appeals of order issued on Dec. 15, 2008.
The board filed a motion for reconsideration which the commission denied in a resolution last Feb. 17.
In a statement, the regents justified their March 14 deferrment as “an act of courtesy to the CA,” which had yet to rule on Gallega’s petition for injunctive relief.
Taliño-Mendoza noted the nature of suspension was not punitive but merely preventive.
“The action is meant to avoid a situation wherein the official’s continued stay in his post might prejudice an investigation, or discourage potential witnesses, including those under his supervision,” she pointed out.
“Thus, preventive suspension is imperative to ensure an impartial, thorough and expeditious investigation, which would be beneficial to both the complainant as well as the respondent.”
Taliño-Mendoza cited a directive by President Arroyo on expeditious action on sexual harass-ment complaints.
Under the manual all public offices, including state universities and colleges as well as government-owned or -controlled corporations, are directed to form a panel, providing redress to sexual harassment victims within 30 days.
The head of a government office is mandated to act on a complaint within 15 days, or face charges of neglect of duty.
“We must stress the need for all agencies to comply fully with the policy against sexual harassment in the workplace, and end their complacency in dealing with complaints,” said Taliño-Mendoza.–Roy Pelovello, Manila Standard Today
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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