CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid has admitted calling two complainants in the harassment allegations against a City Hall department head but clarified she did not convince them to withdraw their affidavits.
In a privilege speech at the City Council yesterday, Mabatid said she even encouraged the complainants to file a case against Lorenzo Basamot, their former boss at the Department of General Services.
She said that as chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, and Family Affairs at the Council, it is her duty to help the alleged victims in their fight.
Mabatid presented short clips of the phone conversation and in those clips, she was heard encouraging a complainant to fight for her right as a woman and told her that she has her support.
"I never asked these ladies to stop the case. What is there to stop when there is no case filed in court or in the Ombudsman yet?" she said in her speech.
"I am a woman. I would like to remind everyone that I am a victim myself of physical, mental, and verbal abuse by men in this dirty world of politics from day one when I joined public service up to now," Mabatid said.
Basamot
Mabatid said she sympathize with both the complainants and Basamot.
"I sympathize with the alleged victims of this case who had to endure, not only their personal horrors, but the terror also brought by dirty politicking that tarnish this private matter," she said.
She said of Basamot: "No one has the right to judge him, not until he is proven guilty by law. Everyone deserves a right to due process of law," she said, pointing out that he is now experiencing a trial by publicity.
Mabatid said Basamot should not be terminated nor be asked to resign until he is proven guilty.
"I am not only the chairman of the Committee on Women but also of Children and Family Affairs, which means that it's my job to protect everyone that is involved in this case- the alleged victims and their families; Mr. Basamot and his family," Mabatid said.
Case Filed
Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Rey Gealon disclosed that the complainants have already filed a sexual harassment case against Basamot with the City Legal Office last Monday.
Gealon said he convened a five-lawyer investigating team to look into the matter.
"They have already attached their sworn affidavits narrating their alleged ordeal on different dates and under different circumstances. Due process will be accorded to the respondent by summoning him to file his counter-affidavit and present countervailing evidence," he said.
"We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation, considering the seriousness and gravity of the charges," he added.
Mayor Edgardo Labella, for his part, said an investigation is necessary considering that both complainants and the respondent belong to the executive branch, which he leads.
"The investigation report must have to be submitted to the Office of the Mayor for appropriate action," Labella said.
Labella said Basamot may be suspended preventively if the CLO recommends. He clarified, though, "preventive suspension is not a penalty, it is just a precautionary measure."
Himself a lawyer, Labella said a public official can be suspended preventively if the evidence of guilt is strong; if the respondent's continuous stay in the office will prejudice the investigation being conducted against him; and if the alleged administrative infraction, of which he is being charged, constitutes grave misconduct.
Basamot said earlier the allegations against him are politically motivated because he will run as barangay captain in the next elections.
He said he has a recording of one of the complainants admitting that someone ordered her to make the accusation.
Alcover, Ayuman
Still in her privilege speech, Mabatid said former Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman has no right to call on her to step down as the chairman of the council committee because he has no credibility to do so.
Ayuman said earlier Mabatid should resign so as not to taint the reputation of the council and Labella.
She also responded to former councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover who said she is taking Basamot’s side because he was her supporter during the elections.
She said Alcover is right but he should also not forget that Basamot supported the whole Barug PDP-Laban during the campaign.
"Undang sa imong sige ug panghilabot kay ikaw mismo dili ka tarung nga pagkatao (Stop meddling because you yourself is not credible)," Mabatid said.
"Sa inyong ka-desperado, inyo na sad ko giapil ani nga kontrobersiya. I kept my silence but not anymore. Sobra na mo! Atubangon ta mo bisan asa kay wa koy atraso ninyo (You’re pulling me into this mess out of desperation. I kept my silence but this is too much. I will face you anywhere because I did not do anything to you)," she said.
Ayuman, for his part, said Mabatid is only diverting the issue.
"Niña, please focus sa issue. You're playing a victim na sad. The issue here is you're trying to convince the victim of Basamot to settle and desist from pursuing the complaint," Ayuman said.
"Where is your delicadeza as chairman of Women’s and Family Affairs? I am calling Gabriella group to denounce the actuation of Niña. Again your claiming to support the victims, then how come you expose the names of two victims in your privilege speech?" he added. JMO (FREEMAN)