A teacher in Bacolod City was dismissed from the service, and is perpetually disqualified from public service based on Section 51(a) of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in Civil Service. 

According to Atty. Joseph Karol Chiu, Bacolod City Legal Officer, a student of the Bacolod City College (BCC) filed a complaint against the teacher for alleged sexual harassment. 

A copy of the dismissal order cited pieces of evidence gathered by the Board of Trustees of BCC, including messages sent by the teacher to the student deemed to be soliciting sexual favor.  

“Siguro nga attractive sa kanya kaya tinarget nya. Nagso-solicit ng sexual favors ang mga mensahe. Maikli lang ang oras ng OJT [on-the-job trainee], mga compliance ng school. Matagal na yan sya, permanent. Program head, Instructor 1,” Chiu said. 

Among the basis for the decision issued by the Board of Trustees are the severe anxiety, moderately severe depression, and high perceived stress that the misconduct caused upon the student.

"It shows grave gid at very serious ang kanyang ginawa. Ang LGU [local government unit] is willing to receive complaints at other concerns ng mga estudyante sa BCC,” Chiu added. 

The teacher, however, was not named, as well as the student-complainant who, as of this writing, is reportedly of legal age already and has graduated from BCC.

In an official statement on his social media page, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, who sits as chairman of the BCC Board of Trustees, said that he does not condone all forms of misconduct.

“The City Government of Bacolod condemns all forms of sexual misconduct, particularly within institutions entrusted with the education and formation of our youth. Abuse of authority has no place in public service. The city government urges any other individuals who may have been affected to come forward through the appropriate channels,” Gasataya pointed out.

"Public service demands both competence and character. Where either is lacking, especially at the expense of the vulnerable, we will act without hesitation,” he added. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas sought a statement from BCC but no one accommodated the news team. Neither has the said teacher responded to a message that the news team sent.