Teachers file complaint vs DepEd ARMM execs for withholding pay

DAVAO CITY – At least 19 teachers assigned in Marawi City hauled to court several officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) over the alleged non-release of their salaries since January.

Sittie Jalilala Tomawis Abdul-Jalil, one of the complaining teachers, said ARMM education officials, led by Secretary Jamar Kulayan, had refused to release their salaries without valid justification.

In her affidavit-complaint dated March 4, Abdul-Jalil, a master teacher I at the Sultan Cosain Naga Central Elementary School (SCNCES), also named DepEd-ARMM Assistant Secretary John Magno, DepEd regional cashier Rosalinda Hassan, and regional payroll in-charge for Marawi City Badjuri Tuansi, as respondents.

In her sworn statement, Abdul-Jalil said the respondents “conspired in defrauding her of salaries” amounting to P27,844 per month.

Several other teachers submitted a similar affidavit complaint.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman told the Inquirer by phone on Saturday that he was aware of the complaints the teachers had raised against regional and Marawi City DepEd officials.

But Hataman said he was siding with the DepEd officials because there was apparent failure on the part of the complaining teachers to comply with the requirements set for the release of salaries and other benefits. Among these, he said, was the submission of daily time records (DTRs).

Hataman said the fact was that there were over 100 teachers whose salaries had initially been held for because they would not submit their daily time records.

“Majority of those teachers had complied with the submission of DTRs and received their salaries already. There are only 19 who continue to refuse to comply with the requirement,” he said.

Hataman also forwarded a text message from Kulayan, which said the salaries of the remaining 19 teachers had already been downloaded to the Marawi City division and were ready to be released once they submitted their DTRs.

Kulayan also downplayed the reported complaint saying those who made it were relatives of Marawi City schools division superintendent Mona Macatanong, who was replaced in 2014.

Macatanong continues to protest her replacement.