Senate probe into alleged sexual harassment cases in schools sought

Senator Risa Hontiveros is seeking an investigation into the reports of sexual harassment allegedly done by teachers in several schools in the country.

The lawmaker filed Tuesday Senate Resolution 168 urging the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality to conduct the probe with the end in view of “creating safe spaces for students that are conducive for their learning and making perpetrators accountable for the consequences of their actions, consistent with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act.”

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, is the principal author of the Safe Spaces Act.

“Sexual harassment cases brought up to educational institutions’ notice must be resolved in a transparent, pro-active, and timely manner in order to ensure the swift delivery of justice. Schools must remain a safe havens for students,” the resolution read.

“Teachers and perpetrators who harass students have no business remaining in schools in the company of young students and must be made to answer for the consequences of their actions,” it added.

Hontiveros cited the reported incidents of harassment and abuse involving teachers at the Bacoor National High School in Cavite, St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City, and the Philippine High School for the Arts in Los Baños, Laguna.

Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa on Monday said the agency has zero tolerance for any form of abuse in schools, in response to the “very disturbing news” of sexual harassment involving six teachers in Bacoor National High School.

For her part, Hontiveros said that such acts could not just be let go as many students are suffering in silence.

“Sigurado na hindi lang ang mga paaralang ito ang may mga kaso ng karahasan, pang-aabuso, at harassment. Often, victim-survivors do not report because their abusers are persons of authority. How many more of our students are suffering in silence? Hindi pwedeng hayaan lang natin ito,” she said.

(I am sure incidents of violence, abuse, and harassment are not only happening in these schools. Often, victim-survivors do not report because their abusers are persons of authority. How many more of our students are suffering in silence? We can't just let this go.)

The senator also previously filed Senate Resolution 26, urging the Senate to investigate the reported culture of abuse, harassment, and violence at the Philippine High School for the Arts.

“The issues in both resolutions will be tackled in the hearing next week, in time for the opening of face-to-face classes. Hindi pwedeng hindi ito matugunan habang papasok na ang ating mga anak sa eskwela (This should be addressed as our children return to schools),” Hontiveros said.

She also pointed out that the Safe Spaces Act mandates all schools, whether public or private, to publish grievance procedures and to assign an officer-in-charge who can receive complaints regarding violations of the Act.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA News