Republic Act 7877

ANTI-SEXUAL
HARASSMENT ACT
OF 1995

Declaration of State Policy

The state shall value the dignity of
every individual, enhance the
development of its human
resources, guarantee full respect
for human rights and uphold the
dignity of workers, employees,
applicants for employment,
students or those undergoing
training, instruction or education.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Is an act, or series of acts, involving any

unwelcome sexual advance, request or

demand for a sexual favor, or other verbal or
physical behavior of a sexual nature,
committed by a government employee or
official in a work-related, training education
related environment of the person complained
of. (CSC Resolution No. 01-0940)

As defined by the Act (Sec

3)
is committed by an employer, employee,

manager, supervisor, agent of the employer,

teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor,
or any other person who, having authority,
influence or moral ascendancy (AIM) over
another in a work or training or education
environment
demands, requests or otherwise requires any
sexual favor from the other, regardless of
whether the demand, request or requirement
for submission is accepted by the object of
said Act.

What are the forms of Sexual

Harassment?
Physical:
Malicious touching
Overt sexual advances
Gestures and lewd insinuations

Verbal - such as, but not limited to, requests or demands

for sexual favors and lurid remarks

Use of objects, pictures or graphics, letters, written notes,

texts via cellular phones with sexual underpinnings

Other forms analogous to the foregoing

In a work-related or employment environment,

sexual harassment is committed when:
(1) Sexual Favors is made as a condition

of:

hiring or in the employment, re-

employment or continued employment of

said individual

granting said individual favorable

compensation, terms, conditions,

promotions, or privileges

the refusal to grant the sexual favor

results in limiting, segregating or

classifying the employee which in any way
would discriminate, deprive or diminish
employment opportunities or otherwise

 (2) The above acts would impair the

employee's rights or privileges under

existing labor laws
(3) The above acts would result in an

intimidating, hostile, or offensive

environment for the employee

Hostile Environment:
Occurs when unwelcome sexual conduct
unreasonably interferes with an individuals job
performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive working environment.
This form of harassment, whether engaged in by a
manager or an employee can constitute
discrimination, even if there are no tangible
economic job consequences.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES of misconduct which may

constitute evidence of a hostile environment

displaying pinup calendars or sexually

demeaning pictures;
making sexually oriented jokes or offensive
remarks; or
subjecting another employee to unwelcome
sexual advances or touching.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES:
1) a supervisor coerces an employee into sexual
relationship and then rewards the employee with
a promotion;
2) a supervisor takes disciplinary action or denies
a promotion to an employee because he or she
rejected sexual advance from the supervisor.

In an education or training environment,

sexual harassment is committed:
(1) Against one who is under the care, custody or
supervision of the offender;
(2) Against one whose education, training,
apprenticeship or tutorship is entrusted to the
offender;
(3) When the sexual favor is made a condition to
the giving of a passing grade, or the granting of
honors and scholarships or the payment of a
stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges,
or considerations; or
(4) When the sexual advances result in an
intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for
the student, trainee or apprentice.

Any person who directs or induces

another to commit any act of sexual

harassment as herein defined, or who
cooperates in the commission thereof by
another without which it would not have
been committed, shall also be held liable
under this Act.

Elements of the crime:

1. that the offender has authority,
influence or moral ascendancy over the
victim in a work, training or education
environment;
2. the offender demands, requests or
otherwise requires any sexual favor from
the victim.

1st element: authority,

influence, or moral ascendency
The gravamen of the
offense is not the
violation of the victims
sexuality but the abuse
of power of the
offender.
- Philippine Aeolus Automotive
United Corp

2nd element: demands, requests, or

otherwise requires any sexual favor
Contrary to the argument of
petitioner, the demand of a sexual
favor need not be explicit or stated.
It is true that this provision calls for a
demand, request or requirement of
a sexual favor. But it is not
necessary that the demand, request,
or requirement of a sexual favor be
articulated in a categorical oral or
written statement. It may be
discerned, with equal certitude, from
the acts of the offender.
- Bacsin vs Wahiman

A mere casual buss on the cheek is not a

sexual conduct or favor and does not fall
within the purview of sexual harassment
under R.A. No. 7877. Judge Acosta's acts
of bussing Atty. Aquino on her cheek were
merely forms of greetings, casual and
customary in nature.No evidence of intent
to sexually harass complainant was
apparent, only that the innocent acts of
'beso-beso' were given malicious
connotations by the complainant.In fact,
she did not even relate to anyone what
happened to her.Undeniably, there is no
manifest sexual undertone in all those
incidents.

In an education or training environment,

sexual harassment is committed:
(1) Against one who is under the care, custody or
supervision of the offender;
(2) Against one whose education, training,
apprenticeship or tutorship is entrusted to the
offender;
(3) When the sexual favor is made a condition to
the giving of a passing grade, or the granting of
honors and scholarships or the payment of a
stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges,
or considerations; or
(4) When the sexual advances result in an
intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for
the student, trainee or apprentice.

It can be committed by the following:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Employer;
Employee;
Manager;
Supervisor;
Agent of the employer;
Teacher;
Instructor;
Professor;
Coach;
Trainor;

11. Any person, who has a authority, influence or moral

ascendancy over the victim.

What is the duty of the employer or head

of office in a work-related, education or
training environment? (Sec 4)
PROACTIVE APPROACH - To prevent or deter the
commission of acts of sexual harassment and
REACTIVE APPROACH - to provide the procedures for
the resolution, settlement or prosecution of acts of
sexual harassment.
Towards this end, the employer or head of office shall:

Towards this end, the employer

or head of office shall:
(a) Promulgate appropriate rules and

regulations in consultation with and jointly

approved by the employees or students or
trainees, through their duly designated
representatives, prescribing the procedure
for the investigation of sexual harassment
cases and the administrative sanctions
therefor.

These appropriate rules and regulations

may include but not limited to:
Guidelines in proper decorum in workplace

Employee Code of Conduct

Other internal policies

Another duty
(b) Create a committee on decorum and

investigation of cases on sexual

harassment. The committee shall conduct
meetings, as the case may be, with
officers and employees, teachers,
instructors, professors, coaches, trainors,
and students or trainees to increase
understanding and prevent incidents of
sexual harassment. It shall also conduct
the investigation of alleged cases
constituting sexual harassment.

Administrative sanctions shall not be a bar

to prosecution in the proper courts for

unlawful acts of sexual harassment.
The employer or head of office, educational or
training institution shall disseminate or post a
copy of RA 7877 for the information of all
concerned.

What is the liability of the employer, head of

office, educational or training institution? (Sec 5)
The employer or head of office, educational

or training institution shall be solidarily liable

for damages arising from the acts of sexual
harassment committed in the employment,
education or training environment if the
employer or head of office, educational or
training institution is informed of such acts
by the offended party and no immediate
action is taken.

Can the victim pursue independent

actions for damages?
Answer: YES
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the victim of
work, education or training-related sexual
harassment from instituting a separate and
independent action for damages and other
affirmative relief. (Sec 7)

Penalties: (Sec 9)
a) Imprisonment of not less than one
(1)month nor more than six (6) months;
or
b) a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos
(P10,000) nor more than Twenty
Thousand Pesos (P20,000)
c) both at the discretion of the court
depending on the gravity of the offense

Any action arising from the

violation of the provisions of this

Act shall prescribe in three (3)
years.

END