ILOILO City – The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) campus in Miag-ao, Iloilo has urged all its constituents who have been victims of sexual harassment or those whose rights have been violated by sexualization and objectification in online messaging and social media platforms to come forward and get in touch with Anti-Sexual Harassment Office (OASH).
This came after a Twitter account “Manyaks of UPV” posted what have now become viral screenshots of a group chat whose members appeared to have shared nude photos of young women, allegedly including their exes and friends, and made sexually objectifying comments.
These triggered emotional submissions from mostly female UPV students and alumni claiming they were harassed or even raped.
Atty. Nellie Regalado, legal counsel of UPV, said the school has always been advocating for the rights of each of every member of the community.
Thus, she encouraged victims to come out so that the allegations will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken against perpetuators.
“UP cannot act without a complainant nga ma-come forward kag mag-claim nga ako ni ang na-violate, ako ang gin-abuse because without this – especially sa social media nga allegations lang – we really have no way verifying at this point,” Regalado pointed out during yesterday’s press conference in Little Theater of UP-Iloilo City campus.
Professor Ricardo Babaran, chancellor of UPV, Professor Ann Gumban, vice chancellor for administration, Professor Josie Rojo, head of OASH, and Professor Martin Genodepa, vice chancellor for planning and development were also present during the event.
As of this writing, UPV’s OASH has yet to receive a formal complaint from victim/s (either students or other members of UPV community) that their rights were violated and harassed in relation to the issue. “As of now, there have been no formal complaint files yet but there are reports which we act on as soon as may ara, that’s why we are encouraging those who feel nga na-violate ang rights or na-harass to come out because this is how we can implement ang amon measures in placed para mag-protect sa amon community sa UPV,” Regalado said.
Meanwhile, Rojo disclosed that OASH has received complaints through text messages – mostly from students that are still affiliated to UPV and some were from the school’s former students.
“We cannot give information on what are these specific complaints. However, some of them already voice out their concerned in social media and I think may idea naman kamo,” Rojo explained.
UPV is set to create fact-finding committees this week “to ensure accountability at the soonest possible time.”
According to Regalado, the fact finding committee “would necessarily dealt on who is guilty of which is not guilty.”
“We need a bigger picture, what is happening outside, to our students, to other members of UPV and how can we help improve whatever situation nga ara kami subong,” Regalado said.
She assured that due process will be given both sides once they received formal complaints from possible victims.
For her part Professor Ann Gumban, vice chancellor for administration of UPV, said they have rolled out preliminary probe and her office is currently gathering more information about the issue.
“We are already started gathering the facts and then turned that to fact finding committee later,” Gumban said./PN
