OFFICIALS of the Southwestern University (SWU) Phinma have ordered dismissed from school two senior high school students involved in the video that went viral on social media last month.
Gilbert Braganza, SWU Phinma vice president for student life, said the school administration issued on Oct. 2, 2019 a “decision on the disciplinary action for the senior high school students.” The two were handed down an exclusion order. This would prevent them from re-enroling, but they would be free to apply to other schools.
Braganza said the two dismissed male students admitted they were among those in the video but they denied taking part in the molestation of the girl in the September 2019 incident.
The video, showing at least four men molesting a girl, who appears to be unconscious, inside a car, was uploaded by one of the suspects on Instagram, then downloaded by others and passed around through Facebook Messenger. Police investigation later showed one of the suspects raped the 16-year-old girl.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) women and children protection desk has filed charges against four male students for violating the Anti-Photo and Anti-Video Voyeurism Act for the viral video. The two were SWU Phinma students while the other two are students of the University of Cebu (UC) and the University of San Carlos.
Police Lt. Erlinda Mayam said the CCPO women and children protection desk has filed an information for rape against one of the suspects and acts of lasciviousness against another.
The UC has yet to complete its investigation of its student. Lawyer Elijah Manuel Sarausad said the UC investigating committee still has to submit its findings. He said they are ensuring that the student is given due process.
While the two SWU Phinma students were handed down an exclusion order, the Department of Education (DepEd) manual states that exclusion is similar to dismissal because those students would no longer be able to enrol again but they can apply to enrol in other schools.
Before the two students were dismissed, they underwent preventive suspension for one week, Braganza said.
He also said the school is strengthening the education of students on cyberbullying, cybercrime, physical abuse and molestation. (HBL with AYB)