Lagman tells VP Sara: Be a teacher, not a centurion

Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman (Photo by Gabriel Pabico Lalu)

MANILA, Philippines — Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman has urged Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte to “be a teacher,” instead of acting like a military officer in the Roman army.

He made the remark after she criticized people who supposedly undermined funds meant for peace and security.

Lagman made the statement on Thursday, as government observes World Teachers’ Day.

“On World Teachers’ Day, we should be reminded that schools are temples of knowledge, not arenas of surveillance,” he said.

“The Secretary of Education must be a teacher, not a centurion,” the lawmaker stressed.

Centurion refers to a military officer in ancient Rome.

Lagman’s comment comes after Duterte fired back at persons who opposed the proposal for her offices to obtain confidential funds.

Vice President Sara Duterte attends the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 13 on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook)

The Vice President had expressed her views at the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga Regional Office.

“Anyone who attacks or undermines funds allocated for peace and order is naturally assumed to have insidious motivations,” she had said.

“Such actions go against the protection and well-being of our citizenry,” she noted.

“Those who seek to compromise the security and development of our nation jeopardize the very fabric of our society and hinder our progress,” she pointed out.

“Makinig kayo sa lahat ng sinasabi sa palibot ninyo at tandaan ninyo, kung sino man kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan,” the Vice President emphasized.

(Listen to everything that is being said around you and remember, whoever opposes confidential funds opposes peace.)

“Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” she concluded.

(Whoever opposes peace is an enemy of the people.)

For 2024, Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) — both under Duterte’s jurisdiction — asked for confidential funds of P500 million and P150 million.

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