Bulacan State U officials dismissed

CITY OF MALOLOS—For the families of seven students of Bulacan State University (BulSU) who drowned in a school field trip in San Miguel town, Bulacan province, last year, the best gift they received on the first death anniversary of their children on Wednesday was justice.

Mariano de Jesus, president of BulSU, who is retiring this month, and eight other university officials and teachers were dismissed from government service by the Office of the Ombudsman for neglect in connection with the drowning of the seven students.

Danilo Hilario, BulSU vice president for research, planning and extension services, who served as the school’s spokesperson, said the officials and teachers involved would ask the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision.

News about the antigraft agency’s ruling circulated on Monday night, preempting a series of protest activities being prepared this week by the families of the victims—Helena Marcelo, Maiko Eleva Ison Bartolome, Mary Magdalene Navarro, Jeanette Rivera, Mikhail Alcantara, Sean Rodney Alejo and Michelle Anne Rose Bonzo.

The students died when a strong current swept them away while crossing the Madlum River on their way to the Madlum Cave.

“We are happy because this fight we won is not only for our children but for the students in the world who may fall victim to tragedies like [last year’s Madlum accident]. We have succeeded in reminding schools how to take care of their students and pupils during field trips and related activities,” said Rodolfo Alejo, father of Sean Rodney.

Donna Marcelo, mother of Helena, said the ruling would not bring back their children, but it was a step in the right direction for the families who felt that BulSU did not do enough to address their issues.

“We did not want the president to fire his faculty because they also have kids, but BulSU could have sued the tour company [that was hired by the school organization to bring the students to the Madlum Cave],” she said.

“It is easy to forgive, but that does not mean they should go unpunished,” Marcelo said.

The families will proceed with a “March for Remembrance” at 8 a.m. today. Accompanied by friends and supporters, they will march from the Basilica Minore toward the BulSU campus and will hold a short program.

The trip was coordinated by a college organization, but the families pursued criminal and administrative charges against the BulSU teachers for violating field trip regulations set by the Commission on Higher Education, as well as regulations imposed by a provincial ordinance.

They also sued members and advisers of Federation of Accelerating Students of Tourism, which organized the field trip; a travel agency, which provided the bus; and three tour guides.

Dismissed with De Jesus were Nicanor de la Rama, dean of student affairs; Nerisa Viola, dean of the College of Home Economics; Angelina Cinco, assistant dean; professors Mary Jane Lopez and Angelyn Dy Tioco; and instructors Leslie Garcia, Rossette Tanwangco and Reynita del Fonso.

The Ombudsman also canceled the BulSU officials’ eligibility, forfeited their retirement benefits and disqualified them from holding public office and from taking the civil service examination.

“We feel for them … dean De la Rama, for one, really cried and could not bear the decision of the Ombudsman. He had been with BulSU for 33 years with no bad record. What he did [that led to his dismissal] was just procedural; he signed documents that his subordinates prepared,” Hilario said.