Court convicts Kalayaan mayor of online sexual harassment

FILE PHOTO: Reelectionist Mayor Roberto Del Mundo/ Photo from Palawan Council for Sustainable Development

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — A local court here has found Kalayaan town Mayor Roberto del Mundo guilty of gender-based online sexual harassment under Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a former employee of Kalayaan local government who accused del Mundo of sending her lewd messages, and “making unwelcome advances and sexist remarks through Facebook messenger from February to March 2020.

The victim sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation in May 2021 to file a case before the city prosecutor, which later found probable cause to charge del Mundo.

READ: Del Mundo wins reelection as Kalayaan town mayor with just 8-point lead

In the 22-page decision signed by Judge Rohima Sarra of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 dated November 28, del Mundo was found guilty “beyond reasonable doubt” and was sentenced to two years, four months, and one day to three years and six months imprisonment.

Sought for comments, del Mundo’s spokesperson Ariel Carlos said through a text message that the mayor “cannot issue anything yet because we have not yet received a copy (of the decision).”

Del Mundo is currently serving a one-month suspension for “simple misconduct” in relation to a grave abuse of authority and misconduct complaint filed against him and several other local government officials in 2018 before the Office of the Ombudsman. He is set to return to office on Monday, December 5.

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