MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has launched an investigation of an alleged rape perpetrated in a restroom in one of its buildings in the campus.
Mira Alexis Ofreneo, head of Ateneo’s sexual misconduct task force, said they are “shocked and outraged” by the incident reported on the anonymous confessions Facebook page ADMU Freedom Wall.
The report, published on Saturday, was submitted by a girl who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by two muscular men at the fifth-floor restroom of the Convergent Technologies Center building.
“We are shocked and outraged by this report. Rape is a heinous crime and is a grave violation of a person’s bodily integrity and human dignity,” Ofreneo said in a statement released by the Ateneo student council.
She said they are taking the post seriously and are verifying the reported incident.
Ofreneo also called on those who may have knowledge on the incident to come forward and share what they know.
“Please be assured that the safety and security of everyone on campus are given paramount importance. Security in the entire campus has been reinforced,” she added.
‘File cases over leaked chats’
Meanwhile, the office of anti-sexual harassment (OASH) of the University of the Philippines-Diliman has called on individuals named in the leaked chat logs to file cases over the misogynistic and homophobic remarks that recently circulated online.
The OASH said it is currently investigating the leaked chats, attributed to members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity, for possible violation of the university’s anti-sexual harassment code.
The leaked messages drew criticisms from the university community, including alumni of the fraternity.
Law student arrested
In Manila, San Sebastian College law student Francis Joseph Bareng, 23, was arrested yesterday after a classmate complained that he raped her during a drinking session in June.
A team led by Chief Inspector Rolando Armendez served an arrest warrant, issued on Nov. 14 by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 33 Judge Edgardo Saplala, on Bareng at his home in Sampaloc just before noon.
Bareng dropped out this semester “because of the problem he is facing,” Armendez said.