THE Department of Education (DepEd) 7 has mounted its own investigation into the arrest of a male high school teacher accused of molesting a student in the City of Naga, southern Cebu.

DepEd 7 Assistant Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said their office is ready to file charges against Mark (real name withheld) should he be found guilty of committing sexual harassment.

Mark was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Dennis Larrobis of the Regional Trial Court Branch 76 on Nov. 8, 2019.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a 15-year-old male student who accused Mark of making sexual advances in exchange for a passing grade.

“We (will) file a case. If possible we will dismiss the teacher (from service) if it will be proven that he had indeed committed a crime,” Jimenez told Superbalita Cebu in Cebuano.

Aside from this, the education office will hold a debriefing session for the complainant.

SunStar Cebu is withholding the name of the teacher pending his comment on the matter.

Jimenez said they have instructed the division schools superintendent in Naga to submit a report on the alleged incident before the DepEd 7 office.

The report will be used as one of the bases for administrative penalties and the filing of criminal charges against the teacher.

P/Maj. Leo Ty, City of Naga Police Station chief, said the teacher was detained before he was able to post a P120,000 bail on Friday afternoon, Nov. 22.

DepEd 7 has reminded principals in Central Visayas as well as teachers in all grade levels of the consequences of violating the child protection policy in schools. (RTF/JCT)