Facts
Jose Romeo C.
Escandor was the Regional Director of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) Region VII. In 2004, he hired Cindy Sheila Cobarde-Gamallo as
a contractual employee under the supervision of his office.
- Cobarde alleged that Escandor made repeated unwelcome sexual advances toward her during her tenure, including:
- Grabbing and holding her hand
during meetings and office interactions
- Attempting to kiss her on
multiple occasions
- Sending text messages
expressing romantic feelings and making suggestive remarks
- Touching her thigh during a car
ride
- Pressuring her into
accompanying him to a resort under the pretext of work-related meetings
Despite her
discomfort and repeated attempts to avoid these interactions, Cobarde felt
compelled to comply due to Escandor’s authority and influence over her
employment status. The incidents caused significant emotional distress, leading
her to file a formal complaint.
The case was
prosecuted under Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of
1995, which prohibits sexual harassment in workplaces where power dynamics are
abused.
Issues
- Whether Escandor’s actions
constituted sexual harassment under RA 7877.
- Whether the power imbalance
between Escandor and Cobarde established moral ascendancy sufficient to uphold
the charge.
Held
The Supreme Court affirmed Escandor’s
conviction for sexual harassment. The Court held that:
- Sexual harassment exists when a
superior uses their authority or influence to make unwelcome sexual advances.
- Escandor’s repeated acts
created a hostile and offensive environment for Cobarde, fulfilling the
elements of the offense under RA 7877.
- His position as Regional
Director gave him moral ascendancy over Cobarde, and the persistence of his
behavior clearly demonstrated abuse of that authority.
- The victim’s resistance and
testimony were deemed credible and consistent with the psychological behavior of
harassment victims.
The Court emphasized that workplace sexual
harassment undermines dignity and the right to equal opportunity, and public
officials must be held to a higher standard of conduct.
0 Comments