AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TASKED TO DRAFT THE RULES ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES IN THE JUDICIARY.

WHEREAS, Section 11, Article II of the Constitution declares that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;

WHEREAS, to reinforce this constitutional policy, Congress enacted on February 14, 1995 Republic Act No. 7877, which is known as the “Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995,” declaring unlawful all forms of sexual harassment in the employment, education or training environment.

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7877 enjoins all employers or heads of Office to promulgate appropriate rules and regulations, prescribing the procedure for the investigation of sexual harassment cases and the administrative sanctions therefore;

WHEREAS, the same Act directs that the rules and regulations to be issued shall include, among others, guidelines on proper decorum in the workplace and educational or training institutions;

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to comply with Republic Act No. 7877, particularly Section 4 thereof, and pursuant to the Court En Banc Resolution dated January 13, 2004, in A.M. No. 03-03-13-SC, a Special Committee was constituted, per Administrative Circular No. 18-2004, dated May 13, 2004, to draft the Rules on Sexual Harassment, not only for the Supreme Court but for the entire Judiciary.  To provide wider representation of the court employees nationwide, the composition of the Special committee is hereby amended as follows:

HON. REYNATO S. PUNO

Senior Associate Justice and

Chairman of the Committee on

Revision of the Rules of Court

Chairman

HON. MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ

Associate Justice and Chairman of the

Committee on Gender Responsiveness

Vice-Chairman

HON. ZENAIDA N. ELEPAÑO

Deputy Court Administrator

Member

ATTY. EDNA E. DIÑO

Deputy Clerk of Court and

Chief Attorney

Member

ATTY. EDEN T. CANDELARIA

Deputy Clerk of Court and

Chief Administrative Officer

Member

HON. ROMEO F. BARZA

President of the Philippine Judges Association

Member

HON. FRED A. BIEN

President of the Philippine Trial

Judges League, Inc.

Member

HON. AUGUSTUS C. DIAZ

President, Metropolitan and City Court

Judges Association of the Philippines

Member

ATTY. ILDEFONSO VILLANUEVA

President, Clerk of Court, 2^nd level

Member

MR. AUXENCIO JOSEPH B. CLEMENTE

President, Clerks of Court, 1^st level

Member

MS. LETICIA AGBAYANI

President, Court Stenographers

Association of the Philippines

Member

ATTY. EVALYN GONZALES URSUA

Member

This Administrative Circular superseded AC No. 18-2004, and shall take effect immediately.

Issued this 30^th of July 2004.