MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has slapped a P20,000-fine on a former Davao del Sur police official after he was found guilty of sexual harassment filed by a female subordinate in 2008.
In a 20- page decision penned by Associate Justice Rolando Jurado, the anti-graft court found ex-Davao del Sur provincial director Cesar Darantinao guilty of violating Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law.
During trial, government prosecutors established that in April 2008, Darantinao forced the female police officer to accompany him to a bar and whispered lewd things to her.
He also placed his hand on her lap, tried to embrace and kiss her, and ordered her to sleep with him in the officer’s quarters.
"(These) acts can be readily perceived as constituting sexual harassment because they involve unwelcome sexual advances—a request or demand for a sexual favor—which are definitely offensive to complainant, if not extremely embarrassing or discomfiting," the decision read.
"Accused’s insistence for complainant to attend a wedding anniversary party, his offer of financial assistance to complainant’s family, his request for complainant not to leave/sleep just yet so they could talk, among others, best demonstrate the exercise of accused’s power over complainant, and, obviously done in pursuance of or in relation to his ultimate goal of obtaining sexual favors from complainant," it added.