'Lascivious' ex-judge gets 30 years in jail

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former executive judge of the Caloocan City metropolitan regional trial court (MTC) to a maximum of 30 years in jail for sexually harassing three female members of his own staff.

The anti-graft court’s first division also ordered Armando de Asa to pay the victims P40,000 each in moral and exemplary damages.

In a 28-page decision penned by Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of five counts of acts of lasciviousness. Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Alex Quiroz concurred with the decision.

The ruling said De Asa’s act of “kissing on the lips, embracing and, in one instance, even licking the ear of one of the private complainants, were undoubtedly and clearly attended with lust and lewd designs.”

“The element of force employed by the accused against the private complainants to carry out his lewd desires was clearly demonstrated …from the testimonies of the private complainants,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Records show that stenographers Floride Dawa and Femenina Barreto and casual employee Noraliz Jorgensen each filed criminal complaints against De Asa, who allegedly molested them on separate occasions.

Sometime between March to August 1997, the victims said the former executive judge molested them as they brought documents to his chambers for signing.

Jorgensen said De Asa kissed her on four separate occasions and even licked her left ear and whispered the words “I love you.”

Deputy Special Prosecutor Jesus Micael, in an interview, said even though the sentence is six years each for five counts of acts of lasciviousness, the penalty can actually be served simultaneously.

Nevertheless, he said De Asa’s conviction is a big win for the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Assistant Special Prosecutor III Mariter Delfin Santos handled the case.

De Asa, who was also presiding judge of Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 51, was dismissed from the service in 1998 for violating the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Supreme Court, finding him guilty of gross misconduct and immorality, also forfeited all his benefits.