Sexual harassment case at Pijijiapan high school adds another complaint against two teachers

TUXTLA GUTIÉRREZ, Chis., (apro) .- The sexual harassment case reported by a young student at the “Felipe Carrillo Puerto” high school in Pijijiapan during her graduation ceremony has had significant repercussions in recent days. The state Education Secretariat announced a new complaint against two teachers at the same school, while the school's principal resigned on Friday.

The student's public complaint, which quickly went viral on social media, led to the arrest of a teacher, identified as José Heriberto "M," who was temporarily removed from his teaching position.

The arrest took place in Tapachula, and the defendant was transferred to the Tonalá prison to be brought before the corresponding court, facing formal charges of harassment and sexual harassment. According to authorities, the teacher was attempting to flee to Guatemala.

The Chiapas government's Education Secretariat announced that the school's principal, Ariel Mendoza Palacios, who had held the position for several years, has resigned while the Attorney General's Office conducts an investigation.

He said the legal affairs department of the Investigation Secretariat is conducting an investigation against two mentors, "for the integration and support of a new procedure, stemming from an anonymous complaint received in the school's inbox against two members of the same high school."

"We will continue with the investigations to clarify the facts and, where appropriate, determine the appropriate administrative sanctions as required by law," the state Education Secretariat stated.

The agency announced that it will collaborate with the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against teachers, "to ensure access to justice and comprehensive protection for the entire school community."

The Ministry of Education condemned the incident and indicated that it has requested that the Attorney General's Office expand the investigation at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto high school to identify additional cases of sexual harassment that have not been reported.

The agency also reported that it will provide all necessary support to the educational community of the affected school and to state authorities, ensuring the implementation of institutional protocols for care, protection, and punishment in accordance with the Zero Tolerance Statement on Sexual Harassment and Bullying.

The student's claims

In her speech, the young woman not only denounced the bullying, but also the alleged complicity and institutional silence that has prevailed at the school for years, pointing out that "a bully's best friend is usually another bully." The student lamented that she wasn't given the opportunity to speak out earlier and urged her classmates to break the silence, ask for support, and not remain silent if they are victims of bullying.

He also asked the school's administration to set up mechanisms to address these cases, such as a complaint mailbox or psychological support.

The case has sparked widespread outrage and brought the issue of bullying, institutional responsibility, and the need for reliable channels for reporting and providing support to victims in educational institutions to the forefront of debate.

Feminist groups such as 50 plus 1 and the Chiapas Feminist Agenda have expressed their full support for the student and highlighted the persistent gender-based violence in educational settings, as well as the urgent need for concrete actions to eradicate it.

They asked the State Attorney General's Office to conduct investigations with a child-centered perspective and an intersectional human rights approach. They demanded that the Ministry of Education activate protocols for the prevention, response, and punishment of sexual harassment and bullying, guaranteeing safe spaces for girls and adolescents, and ensuring their effective compliance.

We urge the State Human Rights Commission and the Executive Commission for Victim Assistance to support this case, highlight the risks, and promote guarantees of non-repetition.

Family and companions of the detainee hold marches, re-victimizing the young woman.

On Saturday, July 19, relatives of the detained teacher held a march in the municipality of Frontera Hidalgo, where the teacher is from, to demand his release, because they believe he is innocent of the crimes he is accused of.

In the municipality of Suchiapa, the sisters of the detained teacher, Gema and Lorena Moreno, accompanied by neighbors and fellow teachers, organized a demonstration with banners in which they stated that the teacher's arrest was hasty, resulting from the media coverage, and they called for a thorough and transparent investigation.

More complaints from students

Authorities confirmed that the victim stated in her public complaint that this was not an isolated incident. Several colleagues raised their hands after the complainant's call, indicating there could be more victims.

On social media, former student Adriana Delgado denounced: “I, too, will speak out: Felipe Carrillo Puerto High School protects harassing teachers. I want to publicly denounce my harasser, Ariel Mendoza Palacios, the school's principal.”

The former student claimed on her Facebook account that, in his position as principal, Mendoza Palacios abused her by failing her. “He took advantage of the fact that I was a teacher, and I was a student, to fail me without reason. He told me there were other ways to stop me, and he offered to take me home. All of this happened inside the institution. I was only 16. Out of fear, I didn't raise the issue further.”

Adriana Delgado added that another teacher, Humberto González Alfaro, asked her to remain silent "so as not to damage the school's image. I was very surprised to learn that my harasser had gone from being a teacher to being promoted to principal."

"He protected bullying teachers within the institution. Now that I have a different mindset, I realize I never had to be afraid. Today I speak out so that tomorrow I won't be your daughter, your sister, your partner, or your mother," the former student wrote.