Professor on molestation: Student set him up

MANILA, Philippines –  A university professor accused of drugging and molesting his female student denied the charges yesterday, claiming he was set up.

Rogelio Plaza, 30, who teaches at the University of Manila in Sampaloc, said he will soon come out with his own account of what happened Wednesday night and turn the tables on the 23-year-old computer science major.

The complainant accused Plaza of making her write an explanation for her absence from his class last Feb. 17 on 20 pieces of yellow pad paper, back to back, then told her he would set it aside if she agreed to drink with him.

She told him that she would agree only if they drank at her apartment, with her roommate. The roommate, who had been stuck in traffic, found the apartment locked and the victim unconscious on the bed when Plaza finally opened the door.

The victim was brought to the hospital and regained consciousness Thursday morning.

Plaza claimed that the complainant “experienced chest pains” and he was simply touching, not groping, her chest to relieve the pain.

He said the woman’s roommate arrived with two men, and that what happened appeared to be a “setup.”

Plaza said it was not true that he forced the complainant to drink with him – he extended the invitation to all 10 students in his class.

He also claimed that it was not only the complainant who was made to put in writing an explanation for their absence from the professor’s previous session.

Plaza alleged that the complainant initially declined to drink with him but eventually sent him a text message, saying she could no longer finish the explanation letter and would just drink with him in exchange for not complying with the requirement.

Plaza also denied that he had claimed the student was his girlfriend.

“We are friends. She was the one who kept texting me and even dropped by my office, but I initially didn’t reply,” he said.

Plaza, who is married, remains detained at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 2.

The professor has yet to post bail, though QCPD Station 2 commander Superintendent Audie Madrideo said the charge of acts of lasciviousness, which has been filed against Plaza before the fiscal, is a bailable offense.