SEXUAL HARASSMENT Court says Atalig guilty

Former Coastal Resources Management Office Director Felipe Q. Atalig was found guilty Friday of two counts of misconduct in public office in connection with the sexual harassment case filed against him more than a year ago by a CRMO staff.

Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama also convicted Mr. Atalig of one count of assault and battery and one count of disturbing the peace after a three-day trial that began Wednesday in the island municipality of Rota.

Mr. Atalig was accused of sexual harassment by Mina Muna, an administrative secretary at CRMO, in a complaint filed by Assistant Attorney General Marvin J. Williams. In the complaint, the ex-CRMO chief was charged with four counts of assault and battery and two counts each of misconduct in public office and disturbing the peace.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio had fired Mr. Atalig after the complaint was filed, citing his administration’s policy of keeping government workplaces free from such misconduct in public office.

During the trial, the prosecution presented eight witnesses to bolster Ms. Muna’s complaints of sexual harassment against her former boss, while the defense had four witnesses.

Court records showed that Mr. Atalig made sexual advances to his staff on March 11 and 12, 1999 during the CRMO’s island beautification campaign in Rota.

The first sexual harassment took place on March 11 after Mr. Atalig and Ms. Muna had dinner at a restaurant in Rota. On their way out, according to court documents, the former CRMO official kissed the victim on her lips and tried to put his tongue in her mouth. Ms. Muna told the court that she pushed Mr. Atalig away and asked him to stop.

When the two arrived at Rota Resort, Mr. Atalig walked Ms. Muna to her room and along the doorway of her room, he grabbed her, put his arms around her and started licking her face. He then pulled up her blouse and sucked one of her breasts while he tried to drag her to the couch.

Ms. Muna also told the court that the former CRMO chief even grabbed her hand and tried to put it on his crotch. Again, Ms. Muna ordered him to stop and reminded Mr. Atalig that he was her boss. Rejected, Mr. Atalig walked away and left the hotel.

The following day, March 12, he knocked on her door while Ms. Muna was fixing her things. He entered the room and followed her to the bathroom where she was combing her hair. Mr. Atalig then got the hair dryer and started drying Ms. Muna’s hair. Again, the terrified Ms. Muna asked Mr. Atalig to stop.

As a result of these incidents, Ms. Muna immediately left Rota, a day earlier than her scheduled departure.

During the trial, Mr. Atalig claimed that the incident happened with Ms. Muna’s full knowledge and consent after a “romantic evening.” He admitted though that he had an erection as he licked Ms. Muna’s ear and nose.