(INQUIRER FILES)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday on free legal assistance for public school teachers.
According to the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC), the MOA is aimed at extending free legal consultations for teachers and non-teaching staff, covering administrative and criminal cases filed while performing their professional duties.
TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said that currently, there is no legal assistance available for teachers, especially in cases of child abuse.
“Right now, there is no legal assistance available for our teachers, especially in cases involving child abuse,” Basas told INQUIRER.net.
He said the DepEd-IBP partnership safeguards teachers’ rights and welfare.
“We need legal advice, assistance in preparation of papers or pleadings and ultimately, especially in criminal charges, representation of a lawyer,” he added.
Basas also pointed out that this agreement will strengthen the legal resources available to teachers who are often left to face administrative or criminal charges on their own.
He said that in many cases, these charges are intended as a form of harassment, if not outright scams.
“But more often, those cases turned out to be malicious, exaggerated, or frivolous and were filed to harass or extract money from teachers,” he said.
The MOA was signed at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Rizal Building, DepEd Complex Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara represented DepEd, while the IBP was represented by its president, Atty. Antonio Pido. (Emmanuel John Abris, INQUIRER.net trainee)