3 CH workers surface, vow to sue Basamot

CEBU, Philippines — With their faces fully covered, the three female Cebu City Hall employees who claimed they were sexually harassed by a division head announced yesterday they will formally file a case before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

They told the media that they have agreed to file a sexual harassment case against Lorenzo Basamot who is under the Department of General Services. They also affirmed what they claimed in their earlier affidavits that Basamot allegedly sexually harassed them in three different occasions.

They did not mention the exact date when they will file the complaint but said they will file as soon as possible.

Basamot, for his part, said he already filed one count of libel to each of the three alleged victims before the City Prosecutor’s Office last week.

“Much better nga mo-file sila para makatubag ko sa ila accusation,” Basamot said in a text message.

One of the alleged victims said it took them a while to decide to file a case against Basamot because they were scared.

Meanwhile, two of the alleged victims are also planning to file a case in relation to Anti-Wire Tapping Law -- one will file against Basamot and one will file against Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid.

Basamot said earlier the allegations against him are politically motivated because he will run as barangay captain in the next elections.

He said he has a recording of one of the complainants admitting that someone ordered her to make the accusation.

The alleged victim said she was not informed that Basamot recorded their conversation.

Another alleged victim disclosed she was not informed by Mabatid that she will be recording their phone conversation.

To recall, Mabatid presented short clips of her conversation with the alleged victim during her privilege speech at the City Council last week.

The councilor said she informed the alleged victim that she will be recording their conversation.

“Now that I have spoken the truth by revealing the recording that says I did not ask them to withdraw the case, wiretapping na sad ang issue? I’m not afraid. I did no wiretapping violation because I asked permission from the alleged victim,” Mabatid said in a text message.

“In fact, it’s one of my evidences of my libel case against them filed last November 28. Again this is Ayuman and Alcover’s dirty tactics they are just using these ladies. Luoy but wa tay mahimo kay nagpadala sila sa mga bitter losers. In the end, they will regret because truth will always prevail and I believe in the law,” she added.

Mabatid filed libel cases against former councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, former Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman, and one of the alleged victims before the City Prosecutor’s Office on November 28, Thursday.

Alcover and Ayuman earlier said they were only helping the alleged sexual harassment victims in their fight.  JMD (FREEMAN)