Filipino football stalwart Cristina Ramos says women who speak up about sexual harassment are portrayed as troublemakers
- The daughter of former Philippines President Fidel Ramos says she has moved on from her own case eight years ago involving Azkals team players
- The ex-national player’s husband was part of a group who ousted her as Philippines Olympic Committee president in 1999
Cristina Ramos, in her role as AFC match commissioner, was inspecting identity documents of the Philippines men’s football team before their friendly against visitors Malaysia in February, 2012.
What should have been a routine procedure turned ugly within minutes of Ramos entering the changing room. The next day, Ramos filed sexual harassment charges against two players – one for alluding to her bra size and another for suggestively wearing nothing but his underwear during the inspection while his teammates laughed aloud.
The investigation lasted months and involved numerous back-and-forth arguments and counterpoints. The players were eventually banned for one game but an appeals committee suspended the bans “because they still had international commitments”.
Eight years later, Ramos – the daughter of former Philippines President Fidel Ramos and the country’s Olympic (POC) chief from 1996-1999 – says she has moved on. But the fight for women to preserve their dignity in a male-dominated sporting landscape continues.
“I felt highly betrayed as it happened with the Philippine team, which was supposed to be a team I would have natural affinity to since I’m also from the Philippines,” Ramos, whose husband was part of the faction that ousted her as POC president, told the Post. “It was so disgusting that these supposed heroes of Philippine football and sports idols didn’t know how to respect and behave properly.