Stay away from learners, DepEd warns molesters

DepEd investigated the incident in aid of administrative cases that may be filed against the accused personnel who was a spectator at the event and not part of any regional delegation. (Wikipedia Photo)

MANILA — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones has warned sexual predators and violators of children’s rights that they have no place in schools and learning places and events.

This, after the arrest of a DepEd personnel from Cebu City who was accused of making sexual advances towards a student-athlete at the 2018 Palarong Pambansa.

Briones, in a statement Friday, said “Behaviors that endanger the physical and mental well-being of our learners are not tolerated in the department.”

DepEd investigated the incident in aid of administrative cases that may be filed against the accused personnel who was a spectator at the event and not part of any regional delegation.

Briones stressed that teachers, school administrators, and non-teaching personnel should “perform functions and conduct themselves, in and outside the classroom, with the responsibility of protecting learners from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence and discrimination in mind.”

DepEd’s action on the incident is pursuant to the department’s Order No.40 series 2012 or DepEd Child Protection Policy and Republic Act No. 7620 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.