• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A program head from the Bacolod City College (BCC) was dismissed from service after being found guilty in a sexual harassment complaint filed by a student.
In a media interview, Bacolod City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed on Wednesday that the decision was signed by Mayor Greg Gasataya, who is also the chairman of the BCC Board of Trustees.
The alleged was an instructor and a department head of the Bachelor of Science in Office Administration Program of BCC, a community college run by the local government of Bacolod.
He was found guilty of requesting sexual favors in exchange for a passing grade and favorable academic conditions, unwelcome inquiries and comments of the student’s sex life, and unwelcome sexual flirtation, advances and propositions.
“The mayor pointed out that there should be no tolerance given for sexual harassment, especially in school, a learning institution, where the primary concern is the welfare of the students,” Chiu said.
The student submitted a verified complaint of the professor sending lewd text messages, as well as an offer of favorable conditions for her on-the-job training, in exchange for them becoming a couple.
The decision mandates the penalty of dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from public service pursuant to Section 51 (A) the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in Civil Service.
The professor has filed a motion for reconsideration that was forwarded to the City Legal Office yesterday, where he denied wrongdoing and questioned the authenticity of the evidence.
Chiu added that the decision was approved by the Board of Trustees.*
