EDITORIAL — No suffering in silence

After an ethics probe, Manila Councilor Ryan Ponce has been ordered suspended for 60 days by the City Council. This was upon the recommendation of the council’s committee on ethics, which investigated a complaint of sexual harassment hurled against Ponce by his fellow neophyte Councilor Eunice Castro.

Ponce, a councilor of the city’s fourth district, was accused by Castro of making lewd remarks, including about her clothing, and suggesting a massage focusing on the female genitalia. She said some of the random digital messages sent to her were deleted by Ponce. 

The case is noteworthy not only because it involves two councilors, but also because Castro openly complained of sexual harassment, detailing several instances, in a privilege speech that she delivered before the city council, with Ponce in attendance. 

Ponce at least publicly apologized immediately. It did not spare him, however, from the ethics probe, which was backed by Vice Mayor Kim Atienza. The vice mayor encouraged women facing similar harassment and other forms of abuse to follow Castro’s lead and speak out against their tormentors.

The council’s order, issued yesterday, takes effect 15 days after Ponce receives the formal notice. Apart from his suspension, however, the council must be reminded that Ponce’s acts may constitute violations of Republic Act 11313, the Safe Spaces Act.

RA 11313, enacted in April 2019, seeks to stop gender-based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces and educational or training institutions. Popularly known as the “Bawal Bastos” law, it penalizes even making catcalls and wolf whistles.

For the repeated offensive acts detailed by Castro, RA 11313 imposes a fine of P10,000 and imprisonment of 11 to 30 days. A lewd gesture in touching her hand is punishable with imprisonment ranging from 11 days to six months and fines ranging from P30,000 to P100,000, depending on how many times the offense was committed.

This incident is a test of RA 11313. The law gives local government units the primary responsibility for enforcing RA 11313. When the violator is an official of the LGU, the penalty should be heavier.

Penalizing violators of the law calls for complainants to speak up. Castro deserves praise for going public with her complaints. Victims need not suffer in silence.