School exec in sex case suspended

A good service record saved a retiring Baguio City school superintendent charged with sexual harassment from being dismissed from the service.

Instead, the Supreme Court has ordered the suspension for one year of Dr. Allyson Belagan, superintendent of the Department of Education in Baguio City, after finding him guilty of grave misconduct.

Belagan, who was set to retire when charged, tried to escape liability in the administrative case against him by assailing the character of complainant Magdalena Gapuz, founder and directress of Mother and Child Learning Center.

Belagan noted that Gapuz faced 22 criminal complaints before the court and 23 other cases before her barangay chairman, mostly involving oral defamation and cases of a similar nature.

But in its 28-page ruling, dated Oct. 19, and penned by Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval Gutierrez, the High Court en banc said Gapuz’ derogatory record has no significant bearing on her allegation against Belagan.

“The character evidence must be limited to the traits and characteristics involved in the type of offense charged,” the court said.

“In the present administrative case for sexual harassment, respondent did not offer evidence that has a bearing on Magdalena’s chastity.” Roy Pelovello