NEDA exec convicted anew of sexual harassment

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was found guilty of sexual harassment for the second time, but was not sentenced to a prison term over the conviction.

In a ruling made public Monday, November 10, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division imposed a P20,000 ($445.44)* penalty against former NEDA Region VII director and current Region IV-B director Jose Romeo C. Escandor for a decade of sexual advances to a female economic development specialist who worked for him.

Before this, in October 2013, the Sandiganbayan Third Division resolved Escandor’s first sexual harassment case, filed by another female subordinate, which resulted to his 6-month prison term and also a P20,000 penalty.

Imprisonment was set aside in Escandor’s recently-decided case before the anti-graft court’s 5th division, as no evidence was presented showing he used his position of power to either threaten the complainant out of her job or offer a promotion.

The NEDA said that it would take appropriate actions against Escandor once it gets a copy of the Sandiganbayan decision.

During the trial, the complainant testified that her married boss, then the Region VII director, harassed her from 1994 to 2004 on the initial declaration that he was “falling in love” with her.

Keeping the pronouncement to herself, she simply ignored the matter. 

However, she said Escandor eventually made physical contact many times after. She narrated from the witness stand how her boss forced her to sit beside him during meetings with his hand caressing hers under the table.

She said Escandor also dragged her, forcibly kissed her on the cheek, and said he missed her.

Her boss would often use the office computer and emails to send her notes about sex, she said.

To make matters worse, she said, Escandor’s wife began sharing with her how she easily got tired given the “intense” sexual “appetite” of Escandor.

In 1999, Escandor asked the complainant twice to begin a sexual relationship with him.

Given her continued refusal to accept Escandor’s offer, she was later on often reprimanded during staff meetings in their regional office.

This hostility toward her forced her to bring the matter to NEDA Deputy Director General Raphael Lotilla, forwarding one of Escandor’s dirty e-mails to her.

Her initial complaint filed before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) was dismissed. CSC lacks jurisdiction over the matter, it ruled.

Her subsequent complaint before the Office of the President then led to her boss’ removal from the NEDA Region VII office in 2007. Escandor later became director of the Region V office, and was reassigned to the Region IV-B office in 2014. – Rappler.com

*US$1 = P44.8994 

Image of female employee from Shutterstock