Thursday, February 21, 2008 Teacher faces sex complaint
EIGHT female students of the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST) Argao, Cebu Campus accused their computer laboratory teacher of acts of lasciviousness.
The teacher (name withheld, pending the filing of the complaint) allegedly lowered the grades of the complainants so he would have reason to call them into his office, where the incident took place.
The students, who are taking up Hotel and Restaurant Services and Tourism (HRST), went to the Argao Police Station yesterday to issue their affidavits. The students’ ages range from 16 to 19.
PO1 Ivy Catipay of the Argao police women’s desk said that four complainants went to the police station at 7 p.m. Tuesday to file their complaints.
Grades
Catipay, in a telephone interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said if they finish the affidavits of the students, they might file the complaints today before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The computer laboratory teacher, who resides in Argao, reportedly started working with CSCST last year as a temporary teacher.
Ana (real name withheld), one of the students, said in an interview with Sun.Star Superbalita that in the later part of January, the teacher informed them about their mid-term grades.
The female students were reportedly puzzled why all their grades were low.
“Pero dili na tinuod nga mao na ang among grado. Duna may nakakita ang tinuod sa iyang record dagko pero iyang isulti gamay kaayo (But these weren’t our actual grades because someone saw his record and our grades were higher),” Ana said.
One-on-one
Students said that while they were having their class last Monday night, the teacher reportedly called the complainants and their male classmates one by one to enter his room.
Inside, the teacher allegedly asked each student if he or she felt contented with their grades.
After calling the male students, the teacher allegedly started calling the female students. When the teacher started to embrace the student, the latter quickly ran away and went out of the room.
Another complainant, Fe (not her real name), claimed her teacher embraced her and kissed her on the forehead and on her lips several times.
“Niingon ko niya nga maluoy intawn ka nako sir oy pagawasa na intawn ko sir. Akong kamot nagkumo na sige’g pugong niya (I told him to take pity on me and let me out. My hands were already clenched as I tried to stop him),” Fe told Sun.Star Superbalita.
Fe said she was only allowed to go out after assuring the teacher that she will not tell others about what he did to her.
The teacher even helped Fe fix her hair after the incident.
Moves
Fe confided the incident to her friend and boardmate.
Lorna (not her real name), another complainant, said they already noticed the teacher’s unusual moves towards his female students.
“Kusog kaayo na siya mangumot sa abaga, sa hawak, moagbay basta lain gyud. Kanang magpatudlo mi niya kana iyang dughan iya gyong idikit sa bukobuko (He likes to squeeze our shoulders or waists, or put his arm around our shoulders. When we ask him to teach us something, he presses his chest against our backs),” Lorna said.
PO1 Vivian Tamayo, interviewed by Sun.Star Superbalita, said they were getting the affidavits of the complainants, who are planning to file administrative and criminal complaints against the teacher.
The complainants have reportedly talked to Deputy Ombudsman Virginia-Palanca Santiago about the filing of administrative charges.
CSCST System President Bonifacio Villanueva has not yet received a report on the complaint. (DRT of Sun.Star Superbalita/With JST & NRC)
