Councilor Pamela A. Librado-Morata, chair of the Committee on Human Rights, raised a matter of collective privilege during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday condemning a reported sexual harassment incident involving a senior high school student and a local taxi driver, and calling for stronger measures to protect women and children in public spaces.
Librado-Morata cited a social media post by the victim last week, who narrated that she was harassed inside the taxi she had hailed while on her way home from school.
According to the post, the taxi driver initially made body-shaming remarks, which later escalated into sexual comments, suggestions, and requests for the student’s phone number. The victim, a minor, said the incident left her fearful, distressed, and humiliated.
Following the incident, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-Davao) issued a show-cause order against the 54-year-old taxi driver on January 23.
While acknowledging the LTFRB’s action, the councilor urged the agency to further strengthen its monitoring of taxi operators and ensure that drivers have clean records and demonstrate proper conduct and respect toward passengers.
Librado-Morata stressed that the act constitutes a clear violation of Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act or the Bawal Bastos Law, which penalizes gender-based sexual harassment in streets and public spaces, including public transportation.
“There is no question that the driver committed a crime. His actions fall squarely within the definition of Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act or the Bawal Bastos Law, which penalizes gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces, online platforms, workplaces, and educational or training institutions,” she said.
She also appealed to the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to reflect on the incident at a policy level and consider mandating gender sensitivity training for transport operators and drivers prior to the issuance or renewal of licenses, if not yet fully integrated into their Gender and Development (GAD) programs.
Beyond administrative sanctions, Librado-Morata emphasized the need for criminal accountability.
She called on the city government of Davao to ensure that charges are filed against the driver under the Bawal Bastos Law and urged the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) to assist the victim in filing the appropriate case and to provide immediate psychosocial support to the victim and her family.
“This was not merely an incident. It was a crime committed in our own city,” Librado-Morata said.
She also noted that Davao City’s recognition as a 2005 Galing Pook Awardee for gender-responsive governance carries with it the responsibility to act decisively against gender-based violence.
“Let us be clear: what happened was not merely an “incident.” It was a crime committed in our own city-Davao City, a 2005 Galing Pook Awardee for gender-responsive governance. This distinction obligates us to act decisively and consistently with our commitment to protect women and children,” she said.
The councilor also commended the courage of the victim for speaking out, saying her decision to share her experience online helped raise awareness, especially among fellow students and minors, about the dangers that persist in public spaces.
Librado-Morata reminded the council that under the Safe Spaces Act, local government units are mandated to pass local ordinances, disseminate information, conduct preventive measures in schools, impose penalties for harassment, establish hotlines, and coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in implementation.
“In fulfilling these mandates, we do more than encourage victims to speak out-we assure them that their stories will not be met with silence, indifference, or inaction. We send a clear message that gender-based sexual harassment has no place in our city and that perpetrators will be held fully accountable under the law,” she said.
