SALUGPONGAN ISSUE. Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, expresses his support for the Department of Eduction (DepEd) decision to suspend the permit of 55 Salugpongan schools in Davao Region in an interview with reporters on Monday in Tagum City. (Photo by Che Palicte)
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – The chief of the Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) has called on the New People's Army (NPA) to stop using the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), particularly tribal schools, in its "ongoing armed rebellion."
Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. issued the call Monday following the Department of Education's (DepEd) suspension order against the 55 schools managed by Salugpungan Ta'tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc. (Salugpungan) for alleged links with the communist rebel movement.
Faustino, who spoke to reporters after the signing of the creation of Task Force Davao del Norte and the launching of the Provincial Peace Framework here, said the 10ID "stands with the peace-loving IPs who only wanted their children to have brighter future and being taught with proper and quality education."
“We will continue to coordinate and provide necessary security assistance to our partner agencies in the government so it will continue to serve our people,” he added.
The 10ID said education remains vital for the success of the youth, especially for children in poor, far-flung areas.
“But what if our educational system is tainted by deceitful individuals who just want to push their own agenda of toppling down the government? What will this make our country in the future?” Faustino said.
He was referring to Salugpungan schools that have been accused by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon of having ties with the NPA.
Esperon, who also chairs the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, alleged that the Salugpungan tribal school system promotes the NPA's goal to overthrow the government by violent means; trains its students to hold mass actions against the government; and uses curriculums not in accordance with the DepEd guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) also expressed its support to DepEd's decision to suspend the 55 Salungpungan-managed schools.
Lt. Col Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesperson, said DepEd was within its mandate to ensure that schools "teach the right and proper education."
“The revelations of the IPs proved that Salugpungan schools are used to teach them to hate the government,” Balagtey said. (PNA)
