Complainants in sexual harassment case vs AFP dentist seek fair trial

The accusers of a senior military dentist fear a whitewash and doubt that the sexual harassment case they filed against their commanding officer would be given due course.

One of the complainants, speaking for the group, said the initial turn of events in the case give them enough reason to doubt the impartiality and credibility of the military investigation of the allegations against Col. Leopoldo Deocaris.

"At this point, they realized how well-connected their adversary is and how biased in favor of him the military system of justice is," she said.

The complainants include women dentists and dental assistants at the 1351st Dental Clinic under the command of Deocaris at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

They claimed there really was an attempt at a cover-up after a military probe body hastily recommended the dropping of the case.

It was the Provost Marshall, on orders of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, that initially handled the grave misconduct and sexual harassment case against Deocaris.

The Provost Marshall recommended the dropping of the sexual harassment and grave abuse case against Deocaris on grounds of insufficient evidence.

"Without being furnished a copy of Colonel Deocaris’ counter-affidavit nor being called to a hearing, the Provost Marshall recommended the dropping of the case," the source, speaking on behalf of the complainants, said.

This explains why the aggrieved parties sought the help of the media and a private counsel, she added.

The Provost Marshall’s recommendation also made the group conclude that somewhere along the way, military probers, for reasons only known to them, mishandled the case.

Not convinced with the Provost Marshall’s findings and recommendation, AFP deputy chief of staff for personnel, Maj. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, who reviewed the case, ordered the case reopened and reinvestigated.

The AFP Inspector General has taken over the case and is still conducting its own probe.

It was learned that at the time of his relief, Deocaris was all set to assume the post of Philippine Navy surgeon general.

The charges against Deocaris arose from accusations of women dentists and dental assistants that Deocaris pulled rank and sexually harassed them.

At least 25 of these women dentists and dental assistants have executed an affidavit to bolster their case.

In many instances, the complainants claimed Deocaris, if he did not utter foul language with sexual innuendo, would simply kiss them.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information chief, when asked how Deocaris abused his subordinates, could not say categorically the nature of these sexual advances.

"It’s more on the verbal abuse," he said.

On whether this abuse had sexual content, he said: "I would presume that is the case, I don’t want to discuss the merit of the case, but based on the initial information, it’s more on the verbal abuse."

Some of the complainants in an interview with ABS-CBN News, described Deocaris’ behavior as "demonic."

A woman dental assistant said Deocaris kissed her on the nape, while a woman dentist claimed that he described her breast as "being too small to make my boyfriend happy."

Bacarro assured that the AFP will not tolerate any infractions committed by members of the uniformed services.

However, there was no order yet to restrict or confine Deocaris while under investigation, he added.