A Quezon City court has acquitted former television producers Cheryl Favila and Maricar Asprec of sexual harassment charges filed by news anchor Gretchen Fullido.
In a 91-page decision promulgated Friday, Aug. 28, Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Angeli Albana-Garrido ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt under Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.
“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Cheryl C. Favila and Maricar P. Asprec are hereby acquitted for the crime of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace under R.A. No. 7877 for Criminal Case No. 19-05659-CR based on reasonable doubt,” the ruling read.
The court reiterated the constitutional presumption of innocence, emphasizing that any reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused when the prosecution fails to meet its burden of proof.
The decision concludes a legal battle that originated from Fullido’s 2018 complaint against the two producers over alleged workplace harassment.