DepEd chief Briones condemns killing of teachers in Cotabato City

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones spoke out against a shooting incident in Cotabato City recently that resulted in the killing of two teachers and the wounding of another.

Briones said that it is a “collective responsibility” to protect the nation’s educators.

“Our teachers deserve the same safety and protection that we strive to provide our students. This is a collective responsibility of our law enforcement agencies, our local governments, our communities, and the department,” Briones said in a statement on Thursday.

According to a report that reached DepEd’s Central Office, the three teachers from Mokamad Ali Elementary School—Fahara Kabuntalan La, 29; Sittie Usop Abdullah, 31; and Aisah Karon Malugka, 34—were onboard a tricycle when they were ambushed last July 12.

Kabuntulan and Abdullah died while Malugka survived. The driver of the tricycle, Fahad Abdulwahid Abdullah, 21, was also hurt.

READ: 2 teachers killed, 2 hurt in Cotabato City


Chief Inspector Rustom Pastolero, police station 3 chief, said that the unidentified gunmen wore ski masks and quickly fled after the attack.

Dr. Concepcion Balawag, administrative officer of the public city schools division, said that the teachers “do not have known enemies.”

Briones has directed the DepEd central office officials to review the incident and determine how the department may be of further help to the families of the victims and to Malugka.

The police investigation on the identities andmotive of the attackers is still ongoing. CDG/rga