Police official cleared of sexual harassment raps

The Manila Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed for lack of evidence the sexual harassment charges filed by a policewoman against her superior at the Manila Police District (MPD).

In a decision dated July 22, 2005, a copy of which was received the other day by respondent Senior Inspector Wilfredo Estrella of the MPD’s District Tactical Operations Center, assistant city prosecutor Sheila Marie Alaan-Ignacio dismissed the charges of acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment and grave misconduct filed by the officer assigned at the District Mobile Patrol Unit.

The decision, concurred by prosecutors Yvonne Corpuz and Eufrosino Sulla, found the complainant having failed to prove her charges beyond reasonable doubt.

In her complaint filed last March, the complainant alleged that on Nov. 16, 2004, then DMPU chief Estrella requested her to give him a therapeutic massage.

She claimed that while giving him a massage, Estrella started holding her legs. Though surprised and furious at what he did, she was still able to maintain her composure and warned him not to do it again.

She said Estrella then touched her buttocks and even pulled down her uniform and grabbed her breast, prompting her to leave her superior’s office.

In his answer to the charges, Estrella denied the complainant’s accusations and cited several instances that put to doubt her credibility.

He also presented evidence to prove that the complainant and her witnesses had an ax to grind against him.

He also questioned why it took the complainant four months to lodge her complaint.

"The decision clearly established that the complainant and her witnesses were only trying to destroy my reputation and credibility, which they almost accomplished when the filing of the charges was picked up by several newspapers," Estrella said.

The police official said he felt vindicated.

"They succeeded in besmirching my name, but I know that they cannot put a good man down," Estrella said.