Cebu judge suspended for sexual harassment

Refusing to accept his defense that he was just naturally friendly and playful, the Supreme Court suspended a Cebu City judge for six months without pay for sexually harassing a member of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) assigned in his sala and one of his female staffers on separate occasions.

In a 10-page resolution penned by Justice Renato Corona, the Supreme Court’s Third Division found Judge Anacleto Caminade of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6 guilty of violating Canons 3 and 4 of the new Code of Judicial Conduct.

The tribunal warned Caminade that a repetition of the same offense would mean dismissal from the service.

"Judge Caminade’s behavior must be sanctioned. We are neither amused by his claims of innocent playfulness nor impressed by his excessive display of congeniality. He acted beyond the bounds of decency, morality and propriety," it said.

"His abusive and distasteful acts unmistakably constituted sexual harassment because they resulted in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for his female subordinates," it added.

The Supreme Court was referring to Caminade’s admission that he, indeed, would kiss, tease and play pranks on his female friends and staffers because he was naturally friendly.

He also admitted that he liked complimenting women for their physical attributes but without any malice or lustful designs.

PAO lawyer Grace Veloso recounted that in the guise of discussing a case with her on March 9, 2001, Caminade invited her to his chambers where he squeezed her thigh and kissed her hand when she was leaving.

Veloso said she left Caminade’s chambers "stunned." She later asked her superiors to reassign her to another court, which was granted.

Clerk Ma. Joeylynn Quinones, for her part, complained that Caminade squeezed her hand when she handed him records of cases on three different occasions in February 2001.

Although offended, Quinones said she remained silent about what happened in deference to and because of fear of the judge.

But on Valentine’s Day that year, Quinones said Caminade suddenly kissed her on the cheek inside his chambers. But the judge claimed he merely asked her to open a jar because he only has one hand.

Caminade said the complainants merely misinterpreted his actions which he said were not meant to be malicious.