October 5, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Criminal cases have been filed against a Quezon City school principal who allegedly sexually molested four Grade 10 students last week, police reported yesterday.
The principal, 59, was arrested on Sept. 29, a day after the alleged crimes were committed.
He is being held at Quezon City Police Station 15 in Barangay Project 6 for lascivious conduct or violation of Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The sexual abuse allegedly occurred inside the school at around 11:50 a.m., police said. Three of the victims are 15 years old while the eldest is 17.
Police said the suspect asked the students, all boys, to go to his office as he purportedly needed assistance for some work.
“The principal called them for some chores. One of them was asked to cook, and the others were asked to do some cleaning,” Project 6 police station 15 commander Lt. Col. Macario Loteyro told GMA News.
The victims were able to escape and reported their ordeal to their parents. The suspect was arrested during a follow-up operation at his residence in Rizal province.
Loteyro urged other students who may have been molested by the suspect to come forward.
The Department of Education (DepEd), meanwhile, has launched its own probe on the molestation incident.
In a Viber message sent to reporters, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said he had directed the School Division Office (SDO) of Quezon City to investigate the matter.
In a separate statement, QC SDO superintendent Carleen Sedilla confirmed the filing of complaints on Sept. 29 against the principal. The SDO did not provide details of the complaint.
She said the school had already convened its Child Protection Committee, which met with the concerned students and their parents “for intervention and psychological first aid.”
“The case was also reported to the City Social Welfare Office and social workers were immediately sent to offer psychological help to the students,” the SDO-QC statement read.
“Since the principal is no longer in school, the parents and students both chose to continue their regular study in school,” it added.
Condemnation
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemned the alleged molestation.
“We will never tolerate such behavior,” Belmonte said. “We will ensure a thorough investigation of the case, and we are ready to provide legal assistance to the victims to strengthen the case against the accused.”
The mayor also urged other victims to come forward, saying this would ensure that justice is served.
“I would also like to remind our teachers and school officials that it is your duty to protect, care for and prioritize the welfare and safety of our children while they are in school,” she added. — Elizabeth Marcelo, Janvic Mateo
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