The Department of Justice has dismissed the sexual harassment charges filed by a Mindanao-based pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines against his female former teacher at Silliman University Divinity School, an ordained UCCP minister.

In a four-page resolution dated August 14, Acting Regional State Prosecutor Llena Ipong said that the sexual harassment charge filed by the pastor was only a means of gaining leverage over his former teacher, who had earlier filed a rape case against him.

The rape case against the male pastor was recommended for filing by the Dumaguete City Prosecutor's Office before the Regional Trial Court but is now with the Department of Justice for review. The identities of the pastor and the minister are being withheld.

In his complaint for sexual harassment, the pastor, who also trained as a masseur, said he was often required by his teacher to stay after class during the first semester of school year 2004-2005 and request him to massage her at her house. He would also, on occasion, massage his teacher's husband.

He said he could not refuse the request since she had the authority, influence or moral ascendancy over him and she might give him a low grade, diminishing his chances for maintaining his scholarship.

He said that in the course of those massages, his teacher would guide his hands to her upper body, thighs and private parts, which resulted in an intimidating and offensive environment for him. The student graduated in 2005 and became a pastor in Mindanao. In May 24, 2006, he came to Dumaguete and stayed at his former teacher's home as their house guest. He gave her a massage that night.

In her complaint, the teacher alleged that she had dozed off during the massage and woke up to find her former student's finger inside her private part.

She sued the pastor for rape. In defense, the pastor said that his former teacher just wanted to coerce him into continuing what he said was an illicit affair. He also filed the sexual harassment case against his former teacher.

The Regional State Prosecutor noted that the continued visits of the pastor to his former teacher, even after he graduated from school, is not at square with the behavior of one who has been sexually harassed.

"The normal reaction of a victim of sexual harassment would be to avoid the harasser or decline his invitations after being offended," the Resolution said, quoting Aquino vs. Acosta.

The pastor also filed a case against his former teacher with the Silliman University Committee on Decorum but this was dismissed last July 27, on grounds that it happened more than two years before it was filed.*AP

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