Sexual harassment charge vs ex-PH envoy to Kuwait proceeds

MANILA, Philippines – The administrative complaint for sexual harassment against former Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera can now proceed.

This, after the Court of Appeals (CA) denied Primavera’s motion to exclude his alleged victim’s sworn affidavit of complaint based on a mere technicality – the non-submission of a notarial report to a Pasay court.

The appellate court affirmed the denial of Primavera’s move by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Committee on Decorum and Investigation (DFA-CODI), which can now continue hearing the charge against the envoy.

DFA CODI Chair Irene Susan Natividad denied on June 22, 2013 and July 29, 2013 the motion Primavera elevated to the CA, citing a Supreme Court ruling that evidence can be admitted “despite the failure of the notary public in submitting his notarial report to the notarial section.”

“Hence, private respondent’s sinumpaang reklamo (sworn statement) remains valid and admissible. Consequently, it cannot be expunged from the records of the administrative case,” the CA affirmed.

The 6-page CA decision was penned by Associate Justice Socorro Inting, chair of the court’s Special Fifth Division, and concurred in by Associate Justices Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla and Rodil Zalameda.

Primavera was accused of 3 separate instances of sexual harassment by Nerissa Lanza, a domestic helper in Kuwait who sought shelter at the Philippine embassy and subsequently served at Primavera’s residence.

Lanza executed her sworn statement on December 6, 2013.

A formal charge based on the migrant worker’s statement was issued by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. – Rappler.com