VM to DEPED: Hasten probe vs. Teachers

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young will ask Department of Education (DepEd)-7 Director Recaredo Borgonia to speed up the investigation against five teachers of the Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School who allegedly are always late at work.

Young wants to run after the teachers who also filed charges against their principal, Jessica Abayon, for allegedly initiating cheating during the National Achievement Test (NAT) conducted last year. They accused Abayon of giving “codigos” to the NAT examinees.

Young identified the teachers as Jasmin Nacua, Niña Mae Arrogante, Clarenne Lotok, Zenaid Kuhutan and Adelfa Salvador.

Young said he was the one who directed Abayon to strictly enforce the campaign against tardiness in her school, which resulted to the filing of administrative charges for habitual tardiness against the five teachers.

The cases have been elevated to DepEd-7, but Young said there remains no update on the status of the cases.

The vice mayor said he was surprised that Abayon was ordered suspended for three months because what he reportedly know is that the cases the teachers filed against the principal have been dismissed.

Records show that there were three cases filed against Abayon, but only two were dismissed. The third one was downgraded to simple dishonesty.

“Dili man tinuod ang giingon nga suod o paryente nako na si Abayon. Dili usab tinuod nga ang six months unta ang suspension unta gihimo ra nga tulo tungod sa akong influence. Ang tinuod, tulo na lang kay nasuspenso na man na siya og tulo ka buwan,” Young said.

Young, head of the committee on education at the City Council, explained he just wants to protect the principals from harassments of teachers.

“Kon dili nato sila labanan ang resulta mahadlok ang atong mga principal nga mohimo’g aksyon sa mga maestra nila nga magpabadlong kay basin og bawsan sila’g himo-himo’g kaso,” the vice mayor said. — (FREEMAN)