Cavite prosecutor faces sexual molestation suit Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net
November 08, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—A provincial prosecutor is facing not only a case for sexual molestation but possible suspension from service after he tried to force himself on a female litigant and masturbated in front of her inside his office.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, in an order dated Oct. 28, revoked Cavite Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Rivera’s assignment in a concubinage case filed by the complainant and face criminal and administrative charges himself.
“(Rivera’s) detail to (the) City Prosecutor of Cavite City… is hereby revoked. This order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force until further orders,” read Devanadera’s order.
Devanadera issued the order after Cavite Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco informed her of the administrative case he filed in behalf of the litigant, whose name was withheld.
Velasco asked Devanadera to dismiss Rivera and to place him under preventive suspension while the department resolves the administrative complaint.
Rivera was charged with dishonesty, grave misconduct, disgraceful and immoral conduct, being notoriously undesirable and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“Respondent APP Rivera’s acts are totally unforgivable and, thence, he must be removed from the service,” Velasco said.
Velasco said the complainant went to the Cavite prosecutors’ office in Bacoor for the inquest proceedings of her concubinage case against her husband on May 19, 2009.
Rivera was the inquest prosecutor at that time.
Since then, the complainant said Rivera began sending her text messages. She said the prosecutor even asked that she send via multimedia messaging a picture of hers.
She admitted that she also sent text messages to Rivera but only to follow up her case against her husband.
The complainant said during the course of their communication, Rivera told the complainant that Velasco didn’t want to proceed with the filing of the concubinage case before the court.
But Velasco denied Rivera’s allegation saying the case has yet to be fully resolved.
Rivera allegedly told the complainant that he came up with something that would pave the way for the filing of the charge before the tribunal.
On June 8, 2009, Rivera allegedly asked the complainant if they could meet at the Cavite prosecutors’ office.
Thinking that they would talk about her case, the complainant went to meet the prosecutor. It was then that the alleged sexual advances took place.
Rivera had allegedly tried to coerce the litigant into having sex with him, and when she refused his advances, the official masturbated in front of her.
Repulsed by the actions of the assistant prosecutor, the litigant went directly to Velasco to complain.
