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BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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Saturday, May 13, 2017
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KALIBO, Aklan – In light of a sexual harassment accusation, the Aklan schools division superintendent was suspended.
Effective yesterday, Dr. Jesse Gomez was barred from reporting to work pending investigation into the gross misconduct complaint against him.
“You are hereby placed under a 90-day preventive suspension pending investigation of the charges against you,” read part of the two-page order dated April 3 and signed by Education secretary Leonor Briones and Undersecretary Alberto Buyot.
Gomez confirmed receiving the order on May 11.
“The three-month suspension will ensure he will not influence the outcome of the administrative case and intimidate the witnesses,” said the top Department of Education (DepEd) officials.
“Your (Gomez) failure to answer the charges within the period provided herein and/or elect a formal investigation, constitutes a waiver on your part to file answer and/or elect a formal investigation, hence, this Office will resolve the case based on the records available,” the order further stated.
Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr., assistant schools division superintendent, was designated officer-in-charge of DepEd – Division of Aklan.
John Mark Pelayo, a resident of McKinley Road, Barangay Polo, New Washington town and assigned as emergency clerk/driver of the DepEd – Division of Aklan, filed the complaint against Gomez in 2016.
In his complaint-affidavit, Pelayo said Gomez — clad only in white undershirt and gray boxer shorts, and lying on a bed — asked him to enter his office on March 21, 2016 to massage his hand, shoulder and chest.
Pelayo said he “felt uncomfortable of what Gomez was telling him to do.”
“I was taken aback when he held my hands and placed them on top of his nipples,” he stated in the complaint.
Afraid of antagonizing Gomez, Pelayo said he continued the massage but “noticed that he (Gomez) started moaning, as if he was aroused.” And then he asked if Pelayo had any “experience” with a gay man.
Pelayo said he continued the massage albeit roughly, expecting Gomez to get hurt and ask him to stop, but the official “even moaned more and was panting…”
“When he (Gomez) tried to move my hands downward, toward his private parts,” Pelayo said he stormed out of the office. “I felt [that] my dignity was violated and humiliated as a person … I did not report for work anymore.”
Pelayo filed a separate complaint for violation of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 against Gomez, but the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office downgraded the case to unjust vexation.
Gomez denied the allegations. Pelayo “just gave me a massage. I did not do anything else to him,” the official said in a radio interview.
Pelayo must “prove his allegations,” Gomez said. “Why would I do it during office hours when there were people in the Division office?”/PN
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