By Gabriela Baron
Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution directing the Senate to conduct an investigation into the reported culture of abuse, harassment, and violence at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).
Hontiveros filed a resolution urging the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to probe into the alleged gender-based sexual harassment, emotional abuse, and other violence experienced by alumni and students of PHSA.
PHSA, the country’s specialized public high school offering arts-focused education, has been under fire following reports of harassment and abuse endured by students.
READ MORE: DepEd, NBI to probe alleged harassment, abuse in PHSA
“It is imperative that the Senate, exercising its oversight powers, initiate a thorough but expeditious investigation on the matter to ensure that PHSA and other educational institutions are safe spaces, especially with the upcoming blended/face-to face-classes in August,” the resolution read.
Hontiveros, principal author of the Safe Spaces Act, earlier aired her support for the victims who came forward and revealed their ordeals.
Under the Safe Space Act, schools are required to provide a gender-sensitive environment and confidential mechanism for the reporting and redress of grievances on matters of sexual and gender-based harassment.
The resolution pointed out that “If the accounts are accurate, the repeated failure of PHSA administration to address the violence and abuses is a blatant violation of the Safe Spaces Act and a flagrant disregard of the interests of PHSA students – interests they are duty bound to protect and promote as persons reposed with special parental authority.”
Hontiveros also stressed the “urgent need to review the reporting protocols and the procedures of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation of the educational institutions tasked to investigate and address complaints of abuse and harassment.”
The inquiry also seeks “to determine the lapses and to propose corresponding reforms to improve implementation of the Safe Spaces Act and other child protection policies.”
“Pangalawang tahanan ang turing sa mga paaralan kaya dapat ligtas at panatag tayong mga magulang kapag ipinagkakatiwala natin ang ating mga anak,” Hontiveros said.
“Educational and training institutions should be our children’s safe spaces. Walang puwang dito ang mga mapang-abuso,” she added. – ag
