A group of victim-survivors from various schools said that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as well as the heads of higher education institutions (HEIs) should explain how they are handling alleged cases of abuse against students.
“We sincerely believe that summoning them will be insightful on how schools and universities intervened and handled the sensitive issue,” Enough Is Enough (EIE) said.
EIE is an organization of victim-survivors from Bacoor National High School, Philippine High School for the Arts, and Far Eastern University Senior High School among others, and gender justice advocates.
For the group, asking CHED and heads of universities and colleges involved in alleged cases of abuse will help in addressing the problem.
In particular, EIE urged Senator Risa Hontiveros to summon CHED and presidents of HEIs in the Senate probe.
“Only through the thorough review of procedures and protocols and an uncompromising political will can the committee effectively and decisively address the menace by amending laws and overhauling protocols can we seal the gaps that make predators and enablers thrive,” the group said.
Last week, Hontiveros called for a Senate hearing with education officials in response to persistent reports of sexual abuse and misconduct at various government-run high schools to probe into possible violations of the Safe Spaces Act and determine corresponding reforms to improve the implementation of laws and other child protection policies.
EIE viewed this probe as a “good first step” in decisively stamping out the menace of campus predators and their enablers.
But to get a wider and clearer picture of the controversy, the group implored the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equity to also summon officials of the CHED and university officials in “order to determine the gaps and lapses in the handling of complaints of victim-survivors in private and higher education institutions.”
Unlike the recent probe which focused on basic and public education which are covered by the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 40 series of 2012 or the Child Protection Policy, the group said that private and higher education institutions “differ by and large due to the deregulatory framework of our educational system.”
During the Senate probe, EIE said that among the private schools and universities mentioned where alleged sexual predators preyed on their students after the enactment of the Safe Space law include St. Theresa’s College-QC, Miriam College High School, St. Paul College Pasig Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City Academy, School of Holy Spirit of QC, University of Asia & The Pacific, University of Saint La Salle, De La Salle University, St. Paul College Pasig, Mater Ecclesiae School, QC, Far Eastern University High School, University of Asia and the Pacific and the University of Sto. Tomas, Senior High School.
Once proven guilty, EIE said that all predators should be charged with administrative and criminal cases.
Moreover, the group said that the professional licenses of those who were found guilty should be revoked by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and they should also be blacklisted as predators to prevent them from victimizing more students.
EIE is also pushing for the establishment of a national registry of sex offenders to protect students against possible predators in schools.
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/07/deped-ched-urged-to-decisively-address-widespread-cases-of-sexual-abuse-harassment-in-schools/