Hontiveros seeks Senate probe into school's 'culture of abuse'

SEN. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros has sought a Senate investigation into the reported "culture of abuse," harassment and violence at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).

The senator filed a resolution to investigate the alleged gender-based sexual harassment, emotional abuse and other violence experienced by alumni and students of the government-run boarding school.

She also wants the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to look into possible violations of the Safe Spaces Act.

"Educational and training institutions should be our children's safe spaces," Hontiveros stressed in a statement on Wednesday.

"It is imperative that the Senate, exercising its oversight powers, initiate a thorough but expeditious investigation on the matter to ensure that PHSA and other educational institutions are safe spaces, especially with the upcoming blended/face-to face-classes in August," the resolution stated.

Hontiveros, principal author of the Safe Spaces Act, said earlier that the victims have come forward and revealed their "harrowing experiences."

Her office met with some of them and was informed that a PHSA student, a minor, has formally filed a complaint against a PHSA non-teaching staff after being catcalled in November 2019 on campus.

According to a report, there have been other complaints filed but they were "downplayed" by the PHSA administration, brushed off as hearsay and were not entertained for failing to comply with the "format required under existing Civil Service rules".

"Worse, survivors of abuse claimed to have been victim-blamed, silenced, and neglected by the PHSA administrators," Hontiveros said.

Under the Safe Spaces Act, Hontiveros said schools are "required to provide a gender-sensitive environment and confidential mechanism for the reporting and redress of grievances on matters of sexual and gender-based harassment."

Source: TheManila Times