As was the case in the past, Dr. Elsie Barrios, who serves as the superintendent of the schools division for the Department of Education (DepEd) in Palawan, did not appear at the hearing of the basic education committee that took place on Tuesday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Instead, it was the two assistant schools division superintendents (ASDS) who showed up, hoping to shed light on the item-for-sale and transfer-for-sale schemes, but said their repeated appeals for action were ignored.
The division’s two ASDS said that they offered their assistance to Barrios in finding solutions and resolving the problem of the alleged “promotion and transfer for sale” scheme that has plagued the division but were disregarded.
Speaking at a committee hearing last Tuesday, ASDSs Rodel Magnaye and Rafael Manalo said Barrios has remained silent on the issue, and that their calls for action seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
Manalo said no consultations have taken place, especially now that he believes there is demoralization happening within the division.
He also aired his sentiment that whenever there is good news in the division, it goes unnoticed, but when negative news comes out, their office is always the first to be mentioned. He said he wants this to change.
“Nag-offer kami verbally and through messenger on how can we help in this situation considering na ang mga tao natin ay nagkakaroon ng ganito na ramdam namin na out of focus sa kanilang ginagawa,” he said.
“I offered my help how to solve the situation. Pinuntahan ko siya (Barrios) sa opisina and nag-message pa ako pero hanggang doon lang ang pag-uusap,” he noted.
Magnaye also said they raised the issue with Barrios many times, but the only response they got was, “sinisiraan lang or mga galit lang sa akin ang mga taong yan.”
“That’s why nung lumalaki na ang issue, hinahayaan na namin dahil we believe na she has that moral ascendancy dahil sya naman ang superintendent,” he said.
He added that because their persistence did not seem to work, he eventually wrote a letter to Barrios on July 14 to put on record that he offered help.
“I offered my support, which would require the collective efforts of the people in our division. I can help facilitate a focused group discussion, a meeting, or a planning workshop to give birth to a solution that would pave the way for a more transparent and unquestionable process of hiring, selection, and promotion,” Magnaye stated in his letter.
“Although this would mean snatching from you the discretionary power to choose the rightful person for the position, if it would be the only means to save our division and to finally put a stop to this activity tainting the reputation of DepEd,” he added, explaining further that if he does not take action, it would be as if he is admitting that the allegations are true.
The two also said that while they have personally received information regarding the issue, they cannot confirm nor deny its veracity, as they do not have official documents.
Magnaye said there was an instance where he received a phone call from an individual who informed him about a teacher who allegedly paid a specific amount. But when he asked for more details, he never received a reply because the caller could no longer be contacted.
“Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, lahat yan ay puro bulung-bulungan lamang at wala kaming matibay na ebidensyang hawak, walang nagsasabi ng pangalan, na ito ang ebidensya. Pero kung sa impormasyon, dokumento, mga pangalan, wala talaga akong matukoy kaya mananatili ako sa paninindigang hindi ko talaga kayang i-confirm pero hindi ko rin kayang i-deny,” he said.
“May nababalitaan kami, may nababasa at naririnig pero hindi ko alam kung gaano katotoo kaya hindi ko rin ma-accept or ma-deny na merong nagaganap,” Manalo chimed in.
Meanwhile, Board Member Rafael Ortega Jr. urged Barrios to conduct an investigation to finally settle the issue.
Ortega, who chairs the Committee on Basic Education, said instead of asking teachers to sign affidavits denying that such a scheme exists, Barrios should initiate a probe.
“Despite sa ating pakiusap na pumunta si SDS Barrios, ay hindi sya pumupunta for whatever reason, at karapatan naman niya yun,” Ortega said in an interview.
“Ang ating kahilingan sana ay finally, kesa sa humingi tayo ng suporta sa mga guro na hindi totoo yan ay baliktarin natin ang ating approach at gumawa ng sariling imbestigasyon para magkaroon ng kalinawan na sana nga, ang items for sale ay hindi totoo,” he added.
Board Member Ryan Maminta, on the other hand, noted that with Magnaye and Manalo neither confirming nor denying the issue, it still needs to be resolved.
“Hindi natin alam kung anong pinanggagalingan pero hindi sapat na maglabas lang ng pahayag, ng reaction sa mga nangyayari, kailangang maresolba at matuldukan,” Maminta said, referring to the official statement released by Barrios.
He also disagreed with Barrios’ claim that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is not the proper body to conduct an investigation or recommend her suspension.
“May pakialam ang lahat tungkol sa issue na ito at dahil nga lahat naman tayo ay nagbabayad ng buwis at boses tayo ng taong-bayan at kahit na ordinaryong mamamayan, lahat tayo may pakialam dito,” Maminta said.
“Para sabihin na walang pakialam at nakaangkla lang sa haka-haka ay hindi magandang pasimula para maresolba yung mga pangyayari. Makipagtulungan na lang at makiisa dahil sila rin naman yung may pinakamalaking bahagi para maresolba ito,” he explained.
