Atty. Dagondon: It Doesn’t End with Knowing Your Rights

Atty. Sheila Dagondon enlightened CASS students about their rights on how to deal with gender-based sexual harassment in various spaces during the Symposium on Republic Act 11313 also known as the “Bawal Bastos Law” at the IDS Multi-purpose Hall earlier today.

Before advancing with the lecture-discussion, Atty. Dagondon expressed that there is already an existing law that deems sexual harassment as unlawful. However, the preceding law has its own drawbacks, mainly because it only applies to working spaces where there is a concept of seniority. Additionally, it required moral ascendancy, which is not necessary in the present law, Safe Spaces Act. She clarified that the Safe Spaces Act does not abolish the existing sexual harassment law, rather, it expounds on the law and covers a wide range of issues including sexual harassment in spaces such as in the streets, training institutions, public vehicles, and etc.

Atty. Dagondon shared that most people always read about the law to know their rights but it’s a different thing when they are already the victim of it. She introduced the three (3) liabilities that the law covers: Civil, Criminal and Administrative. She emphasized that these three can be held against someone at the same time.

Safe Spaces Act covers three (3) liabilities since somehow it is extensive or the area involved is actually wide. Meaning, you can sue for damages, you can sue for the criminal aspect of it and you can also hold a person administratively liable,

Atty. Dagondon added.

While there might be a definition of what a public space is, Atty. Dagondon assured the students that it isn’t a limitation. This means that the law does not limit the areas in which the law itself covers is not limited or cannot be counted as a limitation. That’s why, when a student files a complaint, they really have to stress and make the area a good description to be included in a definition of what is public space.

Atty. Dagondon carried on with the discussion and cited various spaces wherein gender-based sexual harassment may occur. These spaces are not limited to workplaces, streets and public spaces, schools and training institutions, but may also happen in places such as restaurants and cafes, public transportation vehicles, and even online.

Committing such offenses have equivalent punishments and penalties that require the offender to be imprisoned in a set amount of time and pay a fine worth thousands of pesos, with each penalty and fine varying as per the severity of the offense.

The good thing about this Safe Spaces Act is that there is no limitation as to how it should be implemented since sexual harassment may also be committed between peers and those committed to a superior officer by a subordinate and not just the other way around.

We have equality, security and safety. Not only in private places but also in public areas. Mainly, the Safe Spaces Act uses protection for you, when you are walking on the street or going out,

She stressed.

Meanwhile, a freshie expressed how ensuring a safe space facilitates and makes learning in the university more conducive.

It can actually give us a peace of mind and make our learning even more comfortable and safe. I think that if safe space is well implemented, everything can be possible with that,

she explained.

In an interview with one of the attendees, they think that more security guards are needed in MSU-IIT for it to give a safer space for the students. In light of the recent incidents within the university, the presence of security guards may offer students a sense of relief.

Despite there being a lot of security guards in the school, I feel like we still need more security, since there are narrow areas which are not frequented by most people,

the student reasoned out.

The symposium concluded, and Atty. Dagondon expressed her last message to the students regarding the lecture-discussion on RA 11313,

For me, it doesn't end with knowing your rights. It’s really on that aspect, other than, you have to enforce your rights. So, I pray that it would also give them confidence to enforce their rights.

About the Authors

Rona Marie Julaica Alison

Rona Marie Julaica I. Alison is currently taking up BA Sociology as a Freshman Student at Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). She took up Humanities and Social Sciences and graduated from Molave Vocational Technical School in her Senior High School. She joined journalism from 2014 until 2022 where she qualified for National Schools Press Conference on Online Publishing as the News Writer. Currently, she is a member of CASSayuran as a News Writer.

Raiza Jill Genalo

Raiza Jill Genalo, a news writer from CASSayuran, is a first year BA Literary and Cultural Studies student at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology. In high school, she was a sports writer. She has written research papers that won in a few competitions. And also joined and won a few literary contests. She aspires to pursue a career in the medical field, while also exploring and nurturing her love for crafting literature.

Related Topics Headlines News

• Facebook
• Twitter