Silliman University probing sexual harassment allegations
Silliman University has launched an investigation into alleged sexual harassment cases within the Dumaguete City school’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC. Over the weekend, the student government said they received numerous reports of harassment within the unit last week.
One of the reports claimed, last Thursday, a certain person of authority called cadets at random to answer questions and, when male cadets answered correctly, they were told not to kiss their company commander; while the result was not the same for female cadets who gave the correct answers.
“If their company commander was a male— regardless of sexual orientation—they were to give him a kiss,” the statement stated.
They further noted, the alleged person in authority held a “Q&A” with their cadets where they would
be kissed by their sponsors for every correct answer and run one round across the field for each mistake.
Fellow cadets and the person in authority also pressured and forced cadets and sponsors to kiss.
Allegations of homophobic and sexist statements also surfaced wherein the suspects reportedly said, “Sige, naunsa, nabayot na ka? (OK, what, are you gay now?),” whenever a cadet refused to kiss their sponsor.
With the aid of administration, the student government also demanded a thorough probe into the incident and demanded a public apology and settlement with the people who were victimized./