Ex-Kabankalan councilor found guilty of sexual harassment

Villavicencio entered a guilty please before the Sandiganbayan for sexually harassing a technical assistant in August to December 2005 (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has found Carlo Villavicencio, former member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, guilty of sexually harassing a technical assistant in August to December 2005.

In a decision written by Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, Zaldy Trespeses and Bayani Jacinto and promulgated on Aug. 22, Villavicencio was found guilty of violating Section 3 of Republic Act No.

7877, or the “Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995,” and fined PHP10,000.

According to the complaint, Villavicencio took advantage of his official position and demanded to date and have a sexual encounter with his staff member as a condition for her continued employment.

When the sexual advances were declined, Villavicencio refused to renew or favorably endorse the complainant’s appointment at the SP.

During the Aug. 8, 2017 pre-trial in Cebu City, the accused manifested his intention to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”

Villavicencio entered a guilty plea before the Sandiganbayan for sexually harassing a technical assistant in August to December 2005.

With this development, the anti-graft court apprised the accused of the consequences of his intended plea.