A7
over tlumadt school closunes
By Melyin cascon
@melvingasconlNe
Militant lawmakers on Tues-
day said they were consider-
ing filing graft charges against
Education Secretary Leonor
Briones for ordering the clo-
sure of 55 schools sewing the
"lumad ' communities in sou-
thern Mindanao.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos
Isagani Zarate iiaid Briones
had exposed herself to a graft
suit for arbitrarily shutting
down the schools without due
process.
"We condeml tlfs order to
suspend without basis, and in vio-
lation of the basic law todue pro-
cess," he said at a press bdefing.
Zarate made the statement a
day after six Makabayan law-
makers filed House Resolution
No.58, urging the House ofRep-
resentatives to investigate the
closure of 55 schools under the
nonprofit Salugpongan Ta' Tanu
Igkanogon Community Learn-
ing Center Inc.
'Not following guidetines,
On July 10, the Department
of Education (DepEd) in Davao
Region issued the suspension
order against the Salugpongan
schools following a report from
National Security Adviser Her-
mogenes Esperon Jr. that ac_
cused the schools of not teach-
ing in dccordance with DepEd
guidelines.
\PAq€ - ,46',
Zatate slammed the DepEd tecting the rights of students to
chief for giving weight to a educa.tion, it is now allowing it-
"traveling affidavit" that the self to be weaponized to further
military uses anytime itpleases.
discriminate lumads," he said.
: Zarate said Briorcs aould face
aff idavit' charges for depriving lumad stu-
-'SeU-s_erving
"The schools were suspend-
dents of their right to education
ed without any clear evidence, 'amid the government's failure
except for a self-serving affi- to provide these basic needs,
davit which has been recycled and without offering to provide
after it was used to file child any alternative following the
abuse charges .against IACT
schools' closure,
Teachersl Rep. France Castro
Castro said Briones should
and former lawmaker Satur
be held liable for ordering the
Ocampo," he said.
schools' suspension without
According to Zarate, Brio-
considering the plight of 4ooo
nes' order has sanctioned the students who would be affected
schools even before she could by the impending closures.
allow the management to an- "What is lthe DepEd's] alter-
swer the allegations. native? Where will these lumad
"Instead of the DepEd pro- youth study now?" she said. rNe