Makabayan bloc threatens to sue Briones, DepEd execs over ‘lumad’ schools closure
MANILA, Philippines – Education Secretary Leonor Briones and other Department of Education (DepEd) officials may face graft complaints over the closure of 55 “lumad” schools or schools for indigenous children in the Davao Region (Region XI), the House Makabayan bloc said on Tuesday.
According to Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Briones should not be surprised if the complaints are filed in the next days.
“Hindi kataka-taka na sa darating na mga araw, si Secretary Briones at ang mga opisyal na responsable dito, ay dapat sampahan ng kasong graft and corruption. Na-jeopardize ang interes, lalong-lalo na ang mga estudyante at ang mga guro,” he said in a press briefing at the House of Representatives.
Zarate also claimed that the DepEd’s decision to close down the schools, for allegedly teaching left-leaning ideologies, have violated the school administrations’ right to refute the allegations.
“Labag ito doon sa due process no’ng eskwelahan, mga bata, mga teachers, mga administrators, na-penalize na sila hindi pa sila pinapasagot,” he explained.
“Pangalawa, discriminatory ito, mga lumad na nga ito, ang DepEd sa halip na protektahan ang interes ng mga Lumad, sila pa ang nagiging kasangkapan. DepEd is being weaponized to further discriminate our lumads,” he added.
On Sunday, the DepEd decided to shut down the schools based on the recommendations by National Security Adviser and former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
The 55 “lumad” schools were operating under the Salugpungan Ta’tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc. (Salugpungan), which had been accused several times before of fostering ideologies intended to overthrow the government.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. France Castro said over 11,000 students will be affected by the closure of the schools.
“Secretary Briones, 55 schools ang pinasara sa Region XI, hindi ka ba nag-iisip? Hindi mo ba tinanong ang Region XI kung bakit nila ginawa ito, 11,000 na ang affected dito?” Castro asked.
“Ano ba ang alternatibo ninyo? Kung wala itong mga eskwelahan na tinayo ng ating mga kapatid na Lumad, saan mag-aaral ‘yong mga Lumad? Nag-provide ba ang DepEd o ang national government ng pondo?” she added.
READ: DepEd heeds Esperon report, suspends 55 ‘lumad’ schools
READ: DepEd shuts down 55 ‘lumad’ schools
On Monday, the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution seeking the probe on the incident, condemning the closure of the schools as an attack against the minorities in the country.
READ: Makabayan bloc wants suspension of 55 lumad schools probed
This is not the first time that the closure of “lumad” schools were explored. In 2018, during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, then AFP Chief Carlito Galvez said he saw nothing wrong with an Army commander calling for the closure of Alcadev and TRIFPSS, two of the Salugpungan schools in Surigao del Sur. /muf
READ: AFP chief defends Army commander in controversial video
READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: ‘Lumad’ schools
