A resolution seeking to investigate the increasing cases of sexual harassment committed by educators in various schools in the country has been filed in the Senate.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, in filing Senate Resolution No. 168, said it is high time the Senate conducts an in-depth inquiry into the incidents of harassment and abuse involving teachers.
Hontiveros cited the latest cases in Bacoor National High School in Cavite, St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City and the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) in Los Baños, Laguna.
“Often, victim-survivors do not report because their abusers are persons of authority. How many more of our students are suffering in silence? Hindi pwedeng hayaan lang natin ito (We cannot just let this pass),” Hontiveros said.
The senator previously filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 26, urging the Senate to probe the reported culture of abuse, harassment, and violence at the PHSA. The resolution was filed after a news report revealed that a number of the school’s students have experienced harrowing forms of harassment and abuse committed by teachers, non-teaching staff, and students.
“The issues in both resolutions will be tackled in the hearing next week, in time for the opening of face-to-face classes,” Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said in a statement.
“Hindi pwedeng hindi ito matugunan habang papasok na ang ating mga anak sa eskwela (We need to resolve this especially since our children are now going to their respective schools). Schools should remain as safe havens for students,” she said.
At the same time, Hontiveros renewed her call for schools to adhere to the Safe Spaces Act or Republic Act No. 11313.
The law mandates all schools, whether public or private, to publish grievance procedures and to assign an officer-in-charge who can receive complaints regarding violations of the law.
“Do our schools follow the law? Sexual harassment cases brought up to educational institutions’ notice must be resolved in a transparent, pro-active, and timely manner in order to ensure the swift delivery of justice,” she pointed out.
“Tila nagiging last resort ng mga estudyante ang pagrereport sa social media ng kanilang karanasan dahil baka hindi sila pinapakinggan o sineseryoso sa kanilang mga paaralan (It seems that the victims see reporting on social media as their last resort to share their experiences maybe because their school authorities refuse to listen to them nor are they being taken seriously),” Hontiveros said.
“Teachers and perpetrators who harass students have no business remaining in schools in the company of young students and must be made to answer for the consequences of their actions,” she said.
She also called out school administrators who stated they have to prioritize saving face instead of taking prompt and transparent resolution of the cases.
“Please be reminded na may responsibilidad kayo sa mga estudyante. May obligasyon kayo na panatilihin silang ligtas at malayo sa panganib. Tungkulin ninyo na protektahan ang kapanan ng bawat mag-aaral (that you have a responsibility to these students. You have an obligation to make sure they are safe and out of danger. It’s your responsibility to protect the welfare of each students). We cannot accept anything less,” Hontiveros stressed.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian took to task the country’s basic education institutions to enforce their child protection program to combat all forms of violence and abuse against students, echoing Hontiveros’ call.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, cited the role of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Child Protection Unit (CPU) which is mandated to formulate policies regarding students’ rights against violence, abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and maltreatment.
The CPU, he reminded, is also mandated to establish and maintain a monitoring and reporting mechanism for all child protection-related concerns.
Likewise, Gatchalian said schools should mobilize their Child Protection Committees (CPC), which are also tasked to identify students who may be experiencing abuse and exploitation and to report cases involving child abuse.