ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio (center) during a press briefing at the House of Representatives on Monday, October 8, 2018. Photo by Gabriel Pabico Lalu/INQUIRER.net
ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio has asked Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio not to drag public school teachers in her issues with the Makabayan bloc.
“Mayor Sara, kung may problema ka sa Makabayan bloc, diretsuhin mo na kami, ‘wag mo nang idamay ang mga public school teacher ng Davao na tapat na naglilingkod sa inyong siyudad,” Tinio said in a briefing at the House of Representatives on Monday.
Tinio’s remark came after the presidential daughter alleged that Davao-based public teachers asking for additional pay are “liars and terrorists.”
In an earlier Instagram post, Ms. Duterte called on Congress to expel the Makabayan bloc, saying the country’s party-list system has become a “breeding ground” for terrorists.
“So, ACT Teachers Davao, hindi lang kayo terrorista at sympathizer ng mga terrorista, you are also LIARS,” she wrote.
“DepEd should dismiss terrorists from their ranks, how ironic for government to pay public money to people who work against the government. Congress should expel the members of Makabayan bloc, the Partylist system is the milking cow of terrorists,” she added.
Tinio said the Davao City mayor’s rage against the Makabayan bloc came after the local public school teachers requested for “local allowance” from the local government.
“Iyong mga public school teachers ng Davao, nagdedemand ng local allowance mula sa Davao City (government). Marami pong mga siyudad, including mga cities na mas maliit pa nga kaysa sa Davao City, nakapagbibigay […] parang pagkilala na mas mataas ang cost of living sa mga urbanized areas,” he said.
“Mukhang hindi nagustuhan ni Mayor ito, kaya ang response niya, tinawag na terorista […] nanawagan pa na tanggalin na sila sa school. So pananakot, harassment, bullying, sa halip na harapin at salubungin, kilalanin ‘yong lehitimong batayan no’ng panawagan,” he added.
However, Duterte-Carpio belied the claims of the teachers, saying they are giving teaching and non-teaching personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd) an assistance of P2,000 per month.
“We have copies of the budget, pictures of distribution and the liquidation with all signatures. Pahirapan pa nga magpa-approve ng grant ninyo at kami pa ang nasa alanganin and you have the temerity to lie,” she said.
“Kung puwede lang sana kayo iexpel outside of Davao City,” she added. /kga
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