Education chief asks armed groups to spare teachers, students

MANILA, Philippines—While relieved over the release of hostages in Agusan del Sur, Education Secretary Armin Luistro appealed to armed groups on Wednesday to spare teachers, students and school officials from their acts of violence.

“We hope and believe that these groups will find in their hearts the nobility of the role that education workers perform in nation-building. Harming them will only do more harm to the efforts to uplift the quality of education in conflict areas for the future of their children and the country,” Luistro said in a statement.

Armed men from the Manobo tribe on Wednesday abandoned their remaining 12 hostages who were among 16 people they seized in a school in the hinterlands of Prosperidad last Friday.

Luistro lauded the local crisis management committee for securing the civilian’s unconditional release.

“This is good news not just for DepEd but for the whole nation, our teachers and the families of those who were held captive. We laud the efforts of the local crisis management committee for the safe and unconditional release of all the hostages,” Luistro said.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, a teachers’ welfare group, echoed this commendation while again calling on the government to provide educators and students better security, particularly in conflict areas.

“We commend the efforts made by the authorities, especially the local crisis management committee, for this successful negotiation. However, we reiterate our constant reminder to the government, especially the police and military to protect the schools to deter the same incidents in the future and we challenge the president to include it in his priorities,” said TDC chair Benjo Basas.