Is a sexual harassment scandal brewing in one of the Philippine government’s agencies?
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the country’s socioeconomic planning body, released a statement yesterday to say that it is currently investigating an official accused of sexual harassment.
The statement, which appeared on NEDA’s official website, did not identify the official being investigated and the alleged victim.
It said that the office “acted swiftly on a sexual harassment complaint against one of its officials, even prior to the filing of a formal complaint [of the alleged victim].”
It added that the confidential investigation, which is being conducted by NEDA’s Committee on Decorum and Investigation, is being done “in accordance with applicable civil service rules” with the results to be submitted following the office’s “prescribed timelines.”
NEDA’s statement added that it is following due process in its handling of the case.
The Civil Service Commission, whose responsibilities include policing the actions of Filipino government employees in the workplace, passed Resolution No. 01-0940 or the Administrative Disciplinary Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases in 2001.
The resolution states that an alleged perpetrator may be suspended in the course of a sexual harassment investigation if there is a possibility that he was guilty of the charge.
Penalties for guilty officials range from a reprimand or outright dismissal, depending on the severity of the offense and whether or not it occurred multiple times.
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