by Amado C. Guinto, Jr.
“Anybody can become a victim of sexual harassment.” Explaining the caricature of a furious woman with a handprint on her butt and a frightened man with a handprint on his face, MSU-IIT’s Chancellor Prof. Sukarno D. Tanggol, DPA, emphasized this statement when he spoke before cost center heads during the first of a series of seminars on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.
The seminar held at the Mini Theatre last July 4, intends to educate and remind cost center heads about the moral and legal implications of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Experts in Political Science, Human Rights, and Law discussed the nature and repercussions of the offense. Prof. Hilton J. Aguja, Ph. D, explained the socio-historical theories on why and how human beings resort to harassment to display or claim powers over another individual. He added that religious beliefs can also affect attitudes towards sexual harassment.
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| Atty. Edgar Alan A. Donasco |
Atty. Edgar Alan A. Donasco, explaining the legal repercussions of sexual harassment according to this law also known as the Republic Act 7877, pointed on who can be capable of committing the crime and who can be the crime’s victim. He mentioned that anyone who has authority, influence, and moral ascendancy over another person may be culpable in eyes of the law.
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| Atty. Felicidad C. Gadiano |
Atty. Felicidad C. Gadiano reinforced Donasco’s points by citing examples of cases that have been decided on. Explaining these cases, she emphasized that anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment regardless of gender and social status. She also described the degrees of sexual harassment, the penalties corresponding to the gravity of the offense, and the recourses a victim or an accused may take.
An interaction with the members of the audience followed the lectures. Newly-appointed CHRE coordinator Prof. Elaine C. Macamay-Baulete closed the seminar, thus, “As government employees, we all have the responsibility to know our rights.” She added, “This undertaking is part of the efforts of MSU-IIT to become a safer and better work place.”
Sponsors of the seminar are: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Center for Human Rights Education, Human Resource Management Division, and the Department of Political Science, College of Arts and Social Sciences.
Constituents of MSU-IIT may attend the seminar on these dates, following this schedule:
- July 18: CASS and CBAA
- August 1: CSM
- August 15: COE, IDS, SCS
- August 22: CED, SGS, ROTC, COA
- September 5: SET, CON
- September 19: OVCAF, SID, Supply Office, Clinic, Accounting Office, Cashier’s Office, PPD
- October 3: Admissions Office, OARP, CDO, Ceramics Department, DTAP, Library, OVCRE, DE, PEMO,SDO, BAC, Purchasing Office
- October 17: OC, Computer Center, DSA, IASU, Guidance Center, OIS, MICeL, MILO, OVCAA, Registrar’s Office, BMO
- November 14: KASAMA Officers, EC Officers
Topics : msu-iit