The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has added grave sexual harassment among offenses punishable by dismissal from government service under the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (Raccs) which updated the 2017 version.
The 2017 Raccs listed only 12 offenses punishable by dismissal which are serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, being notoriously undesirable, conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude, falsification of official documents, physical or mental disorder or disability due to moral or vicious habits, receiving a fee or something of value for personal use in connection with official duties, contracting loans of money or property from persons transacting with the office, soliciting or accepting a gift or favor in the course of official duties, nepotism, and disloyalty to the country and the Filipino people.
Under the updated rules, grave sexual harassment was included as the 13th offense that can get an erring government personnel fired.
Section 64 (A) of the 2025 defines what acts constitute grave sexual harassment.
These include unwanted touching of private parts of the body (inner thighs, genitalia, buttocks, breast); sexual assault; and groping.
Office superiors and instructors should also watch their words lest they be construed as requesting for a sexual favor on promises of favors like employment, local or foreign travel, promotion, passing grade, or a grant of benefits or allowances — all these fall under the definition of grave sexual harassment.
Another key difference between the 2017 and 2025 versions of the Raccs is the composition of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) in all government agencies which shall have jurisdiction to investigate, hear testimonies, and weigh evidence in all sexual harassment complaints.
In the 2017 rules, the CODI in government offices was composed of a representative each from the management, the accredited union, and the first and second level employees.
In an educational or training institution, the CODI shall be composed of one representative each from the administration, teaching and non-teaching staff, and students or trainees.
The 2025 Raacs went several steps further by requiring that the committee should be headed by a woman and that for members, at least half must also be women.
All government agencies are also encouraged to include participation of persons of diverse sexual orientation or gender identity in the CODI when practicable.
