EDITORIAL — More unforgivable and reprehensible

Two female students have filed complaints before the Carcar City Police Station alleging that their teacher molested them.

According to reports, one of the complainants, a 15-year-old, said the teacher mashed her breasts and touched her genitals when they were alone in a classroom last July 20. The other victim, also 15 years old, said she was similarly violated last March.

The teacher has not denied the reports and allegedly even tried to settle with the parents of one of the girls.

Police said two cases of acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the child abuse law are set to be filed against the suspect. They even added that it’s likely there are more students who were victimized by the same teacher and encouraged them to come forward.

As opposed to an opportunistic stranger come in from the cold, when someone like a teacher, a priest, a parent, a relative, or any adult in authority abuses children in any way whatsoever the crime is more unforgivable. And that is because that person is supposed to be someone children can trust, someone they can turn to to guide them into becoming a better member of society, someone who is supposed to teach them what is right from what is wrong.

It is also more reprehensible if the offender happens to be in a position where they have a certain dominion over a victim, with the capability of issuing penalty or punishment against him or her. Meaning they can do something to make the victim regret reporting a crime.

Of course, the accused should be given the right to defend himself. But if he is determined to have committed the crimes then he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law to serve as a deterrent to other similarly-situated would-be molesters out there.

Not all people in authority deserve to be there. It’s sad that the two girls --as far as we know-- had to find out the hard way.