DepEd conducts probe on teachers involved in starfish-throwing incident

FILE: Viral: A group of teachers tossing starfish into the air in a beach in Palawan. (Photo: Palawan Supernews/Facebook)

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, November 15, is currently investigating a group of teachers behind the viral photo wherein they were seen throwing starfish into the air in a beach in Palawan.

“The Department of Education (DepEd), through the DepEd Region IV-B and the Schools Division Office of Palawan, is now looking into the incident involving teachers who were photographed ‘throwing’ several starfish into the sea,” Lawrence Cruz, DepEd media relations officer, said in a statement.

The photo has gone viral, earning criticisms from netizens since it was posted by Palawan Supernews on its Facebook page earlier this week. As of writing, the said photo can no longer be found on their page, but Project Alagalaan was able to share it on their account.

“In case it is not common knowledge, what they are doing in the photos is not okay as it will cause stress to the animal. An important rule when in the outdoors is to RESPECT WILDLIFE,” Project Alagalaan wrote in its caption.

“These photos are proof that not all are educated about outdoor etiquette. Let this be our motivation to continue educating others about our fragile marine environment,” it added.

The incident reportedly happened last month in a Bataraza, Palawan.

The DepEd said its regional office will be issuing a memorandum “reminding all teaching and non-teaching personnel of their critical role as [an] exemplar to students in promoting the protection of and respect for all forms of wildlife.”

In an interview with Rappler on Wednesday, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) said these teachers may be held liable for violating Republic Act No. 9147, also knowns as the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act.

Under the law, PCSD spokesperson Jovic Fabello said “any person who inflicts injury which cripples and/or impairs” wildlife species will have to pay a fine of P30,000 to P300,000.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier said it is currently looking into the matter, noting that the agency’s Biodiversity Management Bureau already notified the field office in Palawan and the PCSD.

“An info campaign will also be prepared for this,” The DENR said in a tweet, in response to a netizen @sh0njo who also posted the controversial photo.