Lanao del Sur guv denies forcing schools to attend Mar event

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. denied insinuations he forced teachers in Marawi City to suspend classes and attend Tuesday’s dialogue by presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II with local sectors.

In a statement Friday, Adiong, who belong to the administration’s Liberal Party, said he has no authority over public schools in Marawi City since functions of the Department of Education are not devolved to the Lanao del Sur provincial government.

Adiong, now in his last term as provincial governor, said there is a partisan group behind the circulation of stories purporting he ordered school officials in Marawi City to join in the gatherings Roxas attended as special guest.

Roxas, who is LP’s presidential candidate, also had sorties in Maguindanao on Tuesday, after his engagements in Marawi City.

“Public schools teachers are not directly under my office. The welcome gathering for Roxas was organized by the Federation of Sultanates of Lanao, not my office. I merely attended the event being a loyal member of the administration party,” Adiong said.

Lanao del Sur, which has 38 towns, is a known bastion of LP, the dominant political party in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The ARMM covers Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.