No oral arguments on K-12

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has opted not to hold additional hearings on petitions questioning the K-12 program in deciding on the case.

In summer session in Baguio City yesterday, the justices decided to deny the plea for an oral argument in the four petitions filed by organizations against the K-12 program.

Instead, the SC directed parties to just submit their respective memoranda or summaries of arguments before it decides on merits of the case.

SC spokesman Theodore Te said the parties are given a non-extendible period of 20 days to comply with the order.

Last month, the high tribunal denied the plea of petitioners for issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would suspend the implementation of the K-12 program under Republic Act No. 10533 (the Enhanced Basic Education Act) and Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 31.

Should the high court dismiss the petitions, there will be no legal impediment to the implementation of the K-12 program.

Since March last year, four petitions have been filed before the SC against the program that adds two years in the country’s secondary education.

The Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines filed the first petition questioning the legality of the K-12 program under Republic Act 10533 and its implementing rules and regulations.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV then filed a similar petition, along with a group of college teachers and staff called “Suspend K-12 Coalition.”

Two more petitions were then filed by the Suspend K-12 Alliance led by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate and a group of parents and teachers from the Manila Science High School.

Petitioners argued that the K-12 law violated their constitutional rights to due process and equal protection.

They assailed the lack of consultation with parents and teachers prior to the issuance of the order.

Petitioners also accused the DepEd of usurping legislative powers in issuing Order No. 31, which implemented the K-12 basic education curriculum and senior high school.

They said the assailed order was issued without legal authority since Congress was still deliberating on the law at that time.