2 Tell of Sex Harassment at Navy Base

Despite an official Navy policy of zero tolerance for sexual harassment, unwanted sexual advances continue to be a problem at the Miramar Naval Air Station, two women said in interviews this week.

In the most recent incident reported by San Diego police Wednesday, a 49-year-old male employee of the post exchange was arrested Feb. 16 on charges of sexual battery on a 19-year-old female co-worker.

The alleged victim, Nicole Staples, made a citizen’s arrest of Elpidio M. Tubig, who allegedly grabbed her from behind and kissed her while the two were getting ready for work. According to a San Diego police report of the incident, Staples charged that Tubig “grabbed, held her and repeatedly kissed her against her will.”

In recent months, Miramar officials have been plagued by allegations of sexual harassment at the base.

Last month, Connie J. Kent, another exchange employee, sued the Navy and three male co-workers for sexual harassment. Kent, 35, said she was subjected to almost two years of unwanted sexual advances by the three men. She charged that several supervisors ignored her repeated complaints about the men’s conduct.

In a separate incident, a female former lifeguard who claims she was sexually harassed at the base pool last summer said in an interview this week that she was threatened with dismissal after she complained to base officials.

Police said Wednesday that the Feb. 16 incident occurred shortly after Staples, a receptionist at the exchange’s beauty salon, reported for work at 8:50 a.m. She told police that Tubig, a barber at the exchange, came up behind her and grabbed her and began kissing the back of her neck. She pushed him away but Tubig grabbed her again and began kissing her again, Staples told police.

According to police, Staples was able to break away from Tubig and went to her work area. A few minutes later, another woman employee arrived and Staples told her about the incident. The unidentified co-worker reported the incident to the Shore Patrol, who in turn called San Diego police.

Police issued Tubig a misdemeanor citation, and the Shore Patrol then escorted him off the base.

On Tuesday, Navy officials acknowledged that an incident had occurred Feb. 16, but refused to release additional details. Miramar spokesman Doug Sayers called the incident a case of “simple battery” and denied that it included allegations of sexual misconduct.

Although Sayers denied that Tubig was arrested, San Diego police said Tubig was in fact placed under arrest.

Three days after Tubig’s arrest, Miramar officials ruled against the claims made by the lifeguard, who says her complaints of sexual harassment by a sailor were not properly addressed by Navy officials. The woman’s charges were raised in a grievance petition.

Claire Fullerton said in a telephone interview Tuesday that she was pressured to sign a statement saying that she voluntarily chose not to pursue charges of sexual harassment.

Fullerton showed The Times two handwritten statements, both dated June 10, 1991, in which she detailed her sexual harassment complaints. The first statement was written on a form titled “Department of the Navy Voluntary Statement.”

The second statement, which repeats the charges made on the Navy form, was written on two plain sheets of paper. However, the second statement contains two postscripts in which Fullerton wrote that she did not want to pursue the matter further.

“I wrote and signed the second statement under duress. I was told that if I continued to complain about the harassment, I would lose my job,” said Fullerton, a single mother with two young children.