‘Kissing bandit’ faces unjust vexation case

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Apart from a 90-day suspension for grave sexual harassment, a provincial government employee who stole a kiss from an officemate now finds himself facing a criminal complaint for unjust vexation.

Complainant Olivia Toledo (not Violy as inadvertently reported earlier) filed the case against Ernesto Sobrepeña with the Municipal Trial Court here.

Toledo made the move after a provincial panel found Sobrepeña liable for stealing a kiss from her and airing statements with sexual connotations.

The incidents took place last year when the two were officemates at the provincial cooperative affairs office.

Sobrepeña has appealed for a lesser offense with the provincial panel. He told The STAR that he did not intend to sexually harass Toledo and that their families were close until she filed the complaint against him.

But Violy, sister-in-law of Olivia, said Sobrepeña deserves a graver punishment. — Charlie Lagasca