Teacher shot dead in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A high school teacher was shot dead by still unidentified assailants last Sunday night in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

The victim was identified by City Mayor Raymund Tongson as Mercy Besa Miguel, a teacher at Himamaylan City National High School.

Police reported that Miguel was declared dead on arrival at the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital. She was supposed to perform election duty yesterday.

Tongson strongly condemned the shooting incident, as he urged those who were sensationalizing the incident on social media – by linking it to politics – to stop as a sign of respect for the victim’s family.

He ordered the Himamaylan City police to do their best to arrest the suspects behind the shooting incident.

Western Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, in a statement, said that the victim and her husband, Aldrin Miguel, were on their way home from the city public plaza on board a motorcycle at around 8:20 p.m., when they encountered a pile of rocks blocking their way at Crossing Calasa in Barangay Caradio-an.

Dongbo said an unidentified suspect armed with a handgun of unknown caliber shot Miguel in her abdomen while her husband was unscathed. He has ordered an in-depth probe to identify the suspect and the motive behind the incident.

Protect teachers

Condemning the incident, the Department of Education (DepEd) is calling on law enforcers to continue to protect teachers and poll workers during the election season.

“We call on the local authorities in Negros Occidental to deliver swift justice for such heinous crime against our dearly departed colleague,” the statement read.

The department enjoined law enforcers to continue to protect the public amid the election season.

“Likewise, we reiterate our call to our partner agencies, especially the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to protect our teachers, poll workers and voters,” it added.

While the motive has yet to be established, DepEd said that any act of violence against teachers should be denounced as it goes against the values of democracy.

“Though it is unclear yet if such brutality was election-related, we denounce any acts of violence and injustice towards our teachers, who have dedicated their lives to the Filipino children and are now selflessly serving the country in this year’s election,” the statement said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones expressed her condolences to the victim’s family. DepEd added that financial and other necessary assistance will be provided to them.

DepEd said over 30 incidents of harassment have been reported by teachers working as poll workers nationwide.

Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua said they received reports of harassment against teachers through their monitoring application.

One of the major reports that the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF) received was the forcible closures of school gates by local candidates in Maguindanao.

A report reaching the ETF said that provincial candidates were barring voters from entering and even harassing teachers inside three schools.

The Ambolodto Elementary School, Tenorio Elementary School and Camp Siongo Elementary School, all located in the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat, were allegedly being barred by forces of an incumbent official.

Meanwhile, the department clarified that teachers did not boycott election procedures in Cotabato during election day.

Around 175 personnel from the Philippine National Police had to take over election duties as the teachers reported perceived threats against their safety.

“To be clear, the teachers did not boycott. They backed out because of perceived threats,” Pascua said in Filipino and English.

He noted that this was accepted by the Commission on Elections to ensure the safety of teachers.

Pascua added that out of the almost three dozen reports of harassment, 19 cases were reported in Isabela in Region II.

There were also harassment cases reported in Dinagat Islands, in Mountain Province and other parts of the country.

Briones noted that they have been receiving reports of harassment and extortion activities against teachers even before election day.

She said that the DepEd has been in close coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure the continued protection of teachers nationwide.

Still, Briones said that there has been a marked decline in reported harassment and violence cases against teachers during this election season compared to previous years.

“We want our teachers to feel secure and protected and believe that we have the capacity to protect their welfare and enhance their welfare and we recognize (their) value to us,” she said during a press briefing.

Briones said that teacher’s morale during election day remained high, especially with the extensive preparation of the department.

She noted that the public still trusts teachers and they are the most trusted during election season.

“If I may say so, in all the professions in our government, when elections are concerned, it’s the first choice or preference that those who oversee the elections are always the teachers,” she added. – Emmanuel Tupas, Romina Cabrera