DepEd-Bicol condemns burning of bags

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol has condemned the burning of students’ bags containing their cellular phones, laptops and other personal items inside a private school in Libmanan, Camarines Sur last Friday.

Quoting initial reports, DepEd-Bicol director Gilbert Sadsad said the bags were burned at the Bicol Central Academy.

Taking his orders from DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, Sadsad said a thorough investigation on the incident would be conducted.

Social media posts claimed that school administrators were irked when the students brought their bags on “formal attire day,” violating policy.

“There was a clear manifestation of child abuse and a violation of our child protection policy,” Sadsad said in an official statement forwarded to The STAR through the DepEd-Bicol spokesperson.

He admitted, however, that DepEd-Bicol could not sanction the person who burned the bags since the school is privately owned. 

“We will be reviewing our policies if we can provide sanctions in terms of possible revocation of the school’s permit to operate and other benefits provided by the government,” the DepEd-Bicol chief added.