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‘Victims’ of sexual abuse urged to file complaint vs. 7 teachers
FILE: Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Michael Poa joins the press briefing and gives updates on the education sector at the DepEd central office in Pasig City on Thursday (August 4, 2022). (PNA photo by Alfred Frias)
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday urged victims of alleged sexual harassment to come forward and file their complaints against seven teachers in Bacoor, Cavite.
In a hybrid joint press briefing, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said this would strengthen the case, if there is any, against the accused teachers.
“Ang problema is walang masyadong mga complainants na nagpa-file ng kanilang mga affidavits so sana po tulungan nyo rin po kami hikayatin ‘yung mga alleged victims na lumabas po at mag-file ng kanilang mga affidavits para po mapalakas lalo yung kaso kung mayroon man (The problem is that not much complainants have filed their affidavits, so we hope you could help us encourage alleged victims to come forward and file their affidavits to strengthen the case, if there is any),” he said.
Poa said the investigation is ongoing and a fact-finding report is set to be submitted to the regional office on Friday for further determination of administrative proceedings.
He said if proven guilty, the seven teachers may face dismissal from service.
“The most severe punishment would be dismissal because the DepEd, it’s really more of an administrative proceeding. If it will merit the severest penalty, (the) penalty will be dismissal,” he added.
Amid allegations, the DepEd assured they are firm to have “zero tolerance” against any form of abuse in schools nationwide.
These allegations originally posted on Facebook were turned down for “violation of community standards.”
They eventually resurfaced on Twitter, with threads including supposed conversations where teachers invited learners to engage in sex.
Poa said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has emphasized the need to intensify the presence of DepEd’s Child Protection Unit.
He said the direction includes further strengthening of programs down to the school divisions’ offices up to the regional office levels.
“That is something that we are looking to soon strengthen to really aid our learners that are experiencing abuse,” he said.
The child protection unit was set up in 2020 to ensure safe spaces for learners, as well as provide them a way to report abuses.
Rene Rose Oriol
September 2, 2022 at 12:45 AM
Nakakalungkot isipin na kung sino pa ang dapat magturo ng magandang asal sa ating mga anak at mga Estudyante.ay siya pa yung mag aabuso at manananamtala sa kahinaan ng mga kabataan. Dapat imbestigahan itong ng DEPED at mahatulan ang may mga kasalanan.Dahil sa mga taong ito ay nawawala ang tiwala at Respeto ng taong bayan sa mga Guro.Sila ang Anay na sumisira sa Departamento ng Edukasyon. Kawawa nman ang mga nabiktima. Nagkatrauma at nawasak ang kanilang mga pangarap.
Justine Mendoza
September 2, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Nakaka lungkot Ang ganyang balita.May mga ibang teacher talaga na nag te-take advantage sa kanilang propesyon.Imbes na Maging Modelo at alalayan Ang mga estudyante sila pa Ang nagiging sanhi Sa takot Ng mga Ito.Baka natatakot at nahihiya Ang mga biktima kaya Hindi umuusad Ang kaso.Sana igawad Ang nararapat na kaparusahan sa mga gurong mapang abuso.
Aries Veloso
September 2, 2022 at 4:53 PM
Tama,no telerance dapat. Kawawa naman yung mga biktima na nagsasawalang kibo, di dahil ayaw nila magsalita kundi naiisip nila ang kanilang kinabukasan, maybe they were threathened by their professor not to tell anyone, parang sa mga teleserye, so imbes na magsalita at magsumbong better yet they just keep their mouth shut. But it is not too late to the victims to stand for what they think is right. Karapatan nila na ipagtanggol at makamit ang dapat at tama. Tulungan sila na maparusahan ang mga umabuso sa kanila, We are all humans and I don’t think makatao ang ginaagawa ng mga abusadong profesor nila. Pairalin at ibalik ang justice system.
Michelle Opiz
September 2, 2022 at 4:55 PM
Tama,no telerance dapat. Kawawa naman yung mga biktima na nagsasawalang kibo, di dahil ayaw nila magsalita kundi naiisip nila ang kanilang kinabukasan, maybe they were threathened by their professor not to tell anyone, parang sa mga teleserye, so imbes na magsalita at magsumbong better yet they just keep 5their mouth shut. But it is not too late to the victims to stand for what they think is right. Karapatan nila na ipagtanggol at makamit ang dapat at tama. Tulungan sila na maparusahan ang mga umabuso sa kanila, We are all humans and I don’t think makatao ang ginaagawa ng mga abusadong profesor nila. Pairalin at ibalik ang justice system.