Ateneo president apologizes for ‘gaps’ in handling sexual harassment cases

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) president Fr. Jett Villarin S.J. has apologized for the “inadequacies” of the university in overseeing sexual harassment cases.

In a memorandum posted at The Guidon, Ateneo’s official student publication, Villarin acknowledged the sentiments of students and faculty members on the sexual harassment cases in its campus.

“I deeply apologize for all the terrible hurt and pain our community has been going through the past few days. Sexual harassment and sexual assault tear at the very heart of human dignity,” Villarin said on Friday. “With contrition, I acknowledge the gaps and inadequacies in our systems and processes.”

On Tuesday, the Ateneo community staged a protest amid reports of sexual harassment in its campus. Professors were believed to be involved in the cases as stated in several social media platforms.

With this, Villarin vowed that the university would “expand its anonymous reporting mechanism to include cases of sexual harassment.”

Villarin also bared that an Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults will be created to stop sexual harassment in campus.

“I intend to set up, Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, directly under my office, that will take charge in training programs and other institutional mechanisms that will ensure greater accountability, transparency, and change in culture that we need to eradicate this evil of sexual harassment,” Villarin said. /muf

READ: Protests vs sexual harassment rock Ateneo