Mandaue City worker facing administrative charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government is set to file an administrative case against a social worker of the City Social Welfare Services who is currently facing three counts of acts of lasciviousness in relation to RA 7610 (child abuse) before the city prosecutors for allegedly molesting two minors under the custody of their office.

Apolinario Bacolod Jr., 53, of barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City, and who is assigned at the Children in Conflict with the Law office at the CSWS, was accused of molesting two sixteen-year-old minors in separate occasions.

Both minors, currently staying at the Home for the Girls at DSWD Training Center in barangay Labangon, Cebu City, filed their separate complaints against the accused before the city prosecutors office in Mandaue City last May 21.

One of the victims said that she was committed to the CSWS last March 12, 2008 after she was sexually abused by her own father. In her affidavit she said that she personally knew Bacolod as he was the one who assisted her in filing a case against his father.

She said that last June 2, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. she was reading books together with other minors at the center when she decided to go out of the room and go to the multi-purpose room for some fresh air.

But when she entered the room she saw the accused at the terrace and he invited her there.

The accused then told her to stand before him and asked her if he could hug her, she refused but the latter suddenly hugged her, she tried to free herself but the accused allegedly pulled her t-shirt up, removed her bra and sucked on her left breast.

He allegedly threatened her if she shouted for help.

The following day June 3 about 10:30 a.m., the complainant was cleaning the floor of the second floor of the center when the accused allegedly pulled her inside the same room and, kissed her in the cheek and sucked her breast again.

The second complainant said in her affidavit that she was committed to the CSWS office and stayed at the center last March 6, 2009 for counseling after she was raped by her employer.

On April 20, Bacolod brought her to the Children’s Legal Bureau in Cebu City to prepare her reply to the counter-affidavit submitted by her employer.

When they were about to enter the building, she alleged Bacolod suddenly and forcibly embraced and tried to kiss her on the lips. Although she tried to push him away he was able to kiss her on her cheeks. She said she was so scared and she just kept on crying while being interviewed by a CLB lawyer.

On April 22, Bacolod again brought the complainant to CLB, she would have not gone with him but was told that she needs to sign the affidavit.

She accompanied him to CLB, where she was able to get her affidavit. Then he brought her to two malls onboard his motorcycle.

While onboard his motorcycle he told the complainant that he wanted to talk to her in private and brought her to D’Inn where she was told to cover her face but she did not heed his request.

When they were inside the premises of D’Inn, the accused then parked his motorcycle and she took the chance to run outside.

She told the accused that she wanted to go home even if she had to walk and he forced her back to his motorcycle as they headed back to the Center where he warned the complainant not to tell anybody.

On April 27, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. she said while she was mopping the floor the accused asked why she did not eat meals and when she did not reply he forcibly embraced her, kissed her neck many times and squeezed her breasts.

The prosecutors office said Bacolod failed to submit his counter-affidavit despite the subpoenas sent to him and said his inaction is an indication of his lack of interest to controvert the case.

Fiscal Glynda Lupian recommended that a charge for acts of lasciviousness in relation to R.A 7610 be filed against Bacolod in court.

Bacolod later denied all the allegations to reporters and said the minors were “brainwashed” at the DSWD Regional Training Center.

Bacolod said last April 27 he did not immediately go to the second floor after arriving in the morning and on June 2, 2008, which was also the complainant’s birthday, he was out of the office.

Human Resource Management Office chief Eutiquio Sanchez has ordered for Bacolod’s transfer to the City Cooperative Office.

Sanchez said that the accused cannot immediately be terminated from service because he is a civil service eligible and has to undergo due process before he can be removed from service.

But since cases have already been filed against him, once he will be furnished with a copy of the charges he will immediately recommend to the city legal office that an administrative case be filed against him.   — Flor Z. Perolina/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)