Manila: Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) chief Brig. Gen. Jessie Tamayao stepped down from his post on Wednesday, following a sexual harassment complaint filed against him by a female police officer before the National Police Commission (Napolcom): In a statement, Tamayao said this is to ensure "a completely impartial, fair, and transparent conduct of the investigation" into the allegations, which he vehemently denied.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Napolcom did not identify the complainant, who sought Tamayao's dismissal from the service for alleged violations of Republic Acts 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995) and 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012).

The complainant alleged that Tamayao invited her to engage in sexual activity while reportedly touching her buttocks. She further claimed that Tamayao's statements and actions were accompanied by intimidation and threats, including the possibility of being reassigned to Mindanao if she refused his advances.

The female officer also accused Tamayao of accessing her cellphone without consent, reading her messages, and taking photos of images and conversations from her gallery, Messenger, and Viber accounts. She said that Tamayao allegedly threatened to use this information against her should she report the incident to former HPG Director Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan.