Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Military dentist relieved for 'sexual harassment'
THE Armed Forces has placed a colonel-dentist under investigation, preparatory to conduct of possible court martial proceedings, for supposedly sexually abusing dozens of his female subordinates.
The officer, identified as Colonel Leopoldo Deocaris, commanding officer of the 1351st Dental Clinic based at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center along V. Luna Avenue in Quezon City, had been ordered relieved by AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon pending the outcome of the inquiry.
AFP public information officer Bartolome Bacarro said Esperon received last September 12 a letter-complaint from "civilians of the 1351st dental clinic" about the alleged illicit activities of Deocaris.
Esperon directed the office of the Provost of the Marshal General last September 17 to look into the complaint and the relief of Deocaris from his post. The relief of Deocaries took effect the following day, said Bacarro.
After a subsequent investigation, the office of the Provost Marshal recommended to AFP deputy chief of staff for personnel Horacio Tolentino last October 9 the dropping of the complaint against Deocaris "for lack of evidence".
"When J1 received the recommendation, he had it evaluated. He sought the legal opinion of the Judge Advocate General," said Bacarro. He said the Judge Advocate General later received formal complaints from 25 dentists and civilian employees detailed with Deocaris' unit.
"The Judge Advocate General noted that more complaints are coming in so the Judge Advocate General recommended that the additional complaints be incorporated to the original complaint and to include the statement of the complainants (to the complaint)," said Bacarro.
Bacarro said the Judge Advocate General later recommended to Tolentino that the case be re-investigated by office of the AFP inspector general. Bacarro said investigation is still ongoing for violation of the Article of War (AW) 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
When asked how Deocaris allegedly sexually abused his subordinates, Bacarro said: "It's more on the verbal abuse". On whether the verbal abuse had sexual content, he said: "I would presume that is the case, I don't want to discuss the merit of the case but based on the initial information, it's more on the verbal abuse."
Bacarro said the military will pursue the case against Deocaris without letup. He said the initial actuation of Esperon to relieve and order an investigation against Deocaris"?would just show that the AFP is taking the case seriously."
He said Deocaris was being considered for promotion to Navy dental surgeon prior to the receipt of the complaint against him "but because of this case that he is facing, he was disqualified."
On the current status of Deocaris, Bacarro said the officer has not been ordered confined. "He is not detained but he would remain without any assignment (while the investigation is in progress)," said Bacarro. (VR/Sunnex)
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