A TOP official of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) stepped down from his post on Wednesday over sexual harassment allegations filed before the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
“To ensure a completely impartial, fair and transparent investigation, I have decided to voluntarily step down from my position as Acting Director of the PNP Highway Patrol Group, effective immediately,” Director BGen. Jessie Tamayao said in a statement, adding that he wants to state, in the clearest and most categorical terms, that he is innocent of these charges.
“I firmly deny the allegations. I can only deduce this is a personal vendetta of which I am not aware. However, I recognize the gravity of such a complaint and the importance of maintaining the public's trust in our office,” he added.
Tamayao clarified that his decision to resign was not an admission of guilt but a demonstration of his commitment to due process and the reputation of the Philippine National Police.
“In my 30 years of service, I have never been involved in, nor subjected to, any such allegation or complaint. I have risen through the ranks through my own diligence, hard work and integrity. By stepping down, I aim to remove any perception of influence or conflict of interest while the proper authorities perform their duties,” he stressed.
“I fully welcome a thorough investigation, and I am prepared to cooperate with the investigating body to clear my name. I am confident that the truth will prevail through the proper legal and administrative channels,” he added.
In a statement, Napolcom did not detail the victim’s rank but said Tamayao was named in a five-page sworn statement submitted to the Napolcom Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) on Tuesday by a female HPG personnel.
The female personnel is seeking Tamayao's dismissal for alleged violations of Republic Act 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995) and Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012).
The complainant said Tamayao allegedly invited her to engage in sexual activity while also reportedly touching her buttocks.
She further claimed that the official's statements and actions included intimidation and threats, such as reassignment to Mindanao if she refused his advances.
The complainant also alleged that the official accessed her cellphone without consent, read her personal messages, and took photos of images and conversations from her gallery, Messenger, and Viber accounts.
He allegedly threatened to use these against her if she reported the incident to former HPG director BGen. Hansel Marantan.
