Gretchen Fullido S*xual Harassment Case Takes Unexpected Turn as 2 TV Executives Acquitted
GRETCHEN FULLIDO – After years of legal proceedings, the s*xual harassment case involving Gretchen Fullido has reached a crucial point with the acquittal of two TV executives.
Two TV executives have been acquitted in the s*xual harassment case filed by news anchor and television host Gretchen Fullido, after the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (QCMTC) ruled that the prosecution failed to establish their criminal liability beyond reasonable doubt.
Broadcast executive Cheryl Favila and segment producer Maricar Asprec were cleared by the QCMTC Branch 32 in connection with the complaint filed by Fullido in 2019 under Republic Act No. 7877, also known as the Anti-S*xual Harassment Act of 1995.
The court’s ruling was contained in a 91-page decision, where it emphasized that the prosecution was unable to meet the required level of evidence needed to prove the allegations against the two accused.
According to the decision, the prosecution failed to establish the case “beyond reasonable doubt,” leading the court to acquit Favila and Asprec.
The court formally ordered their acquittal after finding that reasonable doubt remained regarding their alleged criminal liability in the workplace s*xual harassment complaint.
“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Chery C. Favila and Maricar P. Asprec are hereby acquitted for the crime of S*xual Harassment in the Workplace under R.A. No. 7877 for Criminal Case No. 19-05659-CR based on reasonable doubt,” part of the court’s decision.
The case dates back to 2019, when Fullido pursued legal action against the two television executives under the country’s Anti-S*xual Harassment Act. The complaint became part of a broader public discussion on workplace harassment and the importance of accountability in professional environments.
Despite the acquittal, the court’s decision specifically centered on whether the prosecution had presented enough evidence to satisfy the legal standard required for a criminal conviction. In criminal cases, the burden rests on the prosecution to establish the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Fullido was represented in the case by Atty. Lorna Kapunan. Meanwhile, Favila was represented by lawyers from DivinaLaw, including Atty. Klinton Torralba, Atty. Iyla Marie Ferrer, and Atty. Janessa Mari Kudera.
The acquittal means Favila and Asprec were cleared of criminal liability in the case based on the court’s finding of reasonable doubt. The ruling highlights the strict evidentiary standard required in criminal proceedings, regardless of the seriousness of the allegations involved.
READ ALSO: Gretchen Fullido Shares Experience On Freezing Her Eggs