2 DECS execs in Isabela convicted of molestation

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — Two top officials of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) in this province have been sentenced to 14 to 20 years in jail for sexually molesting two male high school students in 1996.

Regional Trial Court Judge Henedino Eduarte, in a 10-page decision promulgated last Friday, found assistant division superintendent Samuel Simon and division supervisor for English Arturo Nano guilty of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law.

The judge gave credence to the testimonies of the two students, who were both honor students of the Tumauini Regional Science High School.

The two students, then aged 14 and 16, recounted that Nano, a faculty member of the science high school, persuaded them to go to Simon’s house in Alicia town on July 2, 1996, supposedly to be given tips for the quiz bee they were joining the following day.

But the two DECS executives, the students said, instead asked them to drink beer which made them dizzy, and then accompanied them to one of the rooms in Simon’s house to sleep. The two teenagers said they were later sexually molested inside the room.

Simon and Nano are now detained at the provincial jail in the capital town of Ilagan.

Benito Tumamao, the province’s division superintendent, lamented the decision. "We lament the decision. It was unexpected," he said, admitting that the conviction of Simon and Nano further tarnished the image of teachers in the province.

A number of teachers have been accused of taking part in fraudulent acts during the May 14 elections.

Ilagan Mayor Jojo Albano also bewailed the court decision, describing Nano as a religious man. "I don’t believe he could do what the victims accused him of. I think he was only included (in the case)," he said.

One of the students is now a pre-law junior studying in Manila, while the other is in a seminary in Baguio City.