PHIL PA ALAN and RIC CLET
Marawi City – TENSIONS GRIP THE Marawi City Schools Division
as hundreds of supporters from both camps gathered at the Dansalan National
High School (DNHS) Compound for the installation of an OIC principal of the said High School. The
group of Asst Supts Zenaida Unte and Farida Sansarona attempted to install
Teacher III Norma Mangorsi as OIC Principal of DNHS replacing Head Teacher Almaira
Bato.
The order came from OIC Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-
Department of Education (DepEd) Secetary, Dr. John Magno which was served and
implemented by Zenaida “Cheke” Unte and Pharida Sansarona. Unte and Sansarona said, “We are just
following orders.” Both School officials later agreed to the request of Vice
Mayor Salic to defer the implementation of the order for a week. Marawi City
Schools Division Superintendent Mona A. Macatanong opposed the installation attempt
claiming that the order is unlawful. “ That order of Sec Magno is in violation
of the writ of preliminary injunction which was promulgated on June 20, 2014
and writ of mandatory injunction which was also promulgated on August 19,
2015 issued by Honorable Presiding Judge
Rasad G. Balindong, Acting Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court ( RTC) 12th
judicial Region, Branch 8-Marawi City”, Macatanong stressed. In addition, she said
the designated teacher did not report
to her on the said designation as she could have advised her on the
designation, that the position is not yet vacated and that she is the proper
authority to implement the order. She said,” I am concerned with the
implementation of the rule of law.”
The tension was defused through the timely intervention of
City Vice Mayor Arafat Salic and Marawi City Police Director, Supt. Al Abner W.
Santos who arrived and tried to pacify both camps.. Vice Salic asked the affected
school officials and supporters to calm down and settle the issue peacefully.
Vice Mayor Salic asked the parties for a one week moratorium to settle the
issues. He said no installation will take place within one week until the
issues are resolved peacefully. On the hand
Police Director Santos said the police will only maintain the safety and
security of the people and will not interfere with the installation, as the
issue could be settled by the school officials themselves and the local
government officials. Macatanong
stressed that the said order from Magno is illegal. She said the legal opinion
of the Civil Service Commission issued
through CSC Regional Director Leopoldo Robeto W. Valderosa, Jr. stressed that “ … the power to appoint is reserved to
the Regional Governor. Thus, the orders of designation of the regional office,
as long as issued by the Regional Governor, shall prevail… In like manner, designation issued by the
Regional Secretary, if not concurred, is void considering the power to appoint
carries with it the power to designate, reassign and even discipline.” DepEd Regional Secretary John Magno
designated Mrs. Norma B. Mangorsi, Teacher III as OIC Principal of Dansalan
National High School (DNHS) replacing Mrs. Almaira M. Bato, Head Teacher and
directed the Schools Division Superintendent to ensure the implementation of
the order.
According to Macatanong upon assumption to office, Dr. Magno as secretary in the DepEd –ARMM had abused
his authority in discretion by revoking legal designations without due process in replacing them by unqualified ones. She said that Mrs . Salamona Tawagon, principal 3 designated
district in- charge now replaced by Didato
Monto, a principal 1, Mrs Mangondaya, principal 2 was replaced by Linda Salic, Principal
1., Bedorie Hadji Osop, Principal 1 replaced by Ubar Acraman, Teacher 1, Myra H. Manan, Head Teacher replaced by
Noraida Acraman,Teacher1.
Newly appointed Teacher 1 was designated without experiences
were designated Division area coordinator. “Where is the Daan na Matuwid ? ,Next
in ranks are no longer observe in the DepEd- ARMM”, Macatanong said.
Also present to help defuse the tension were other city and
barangay officials including a sizeable number of police personnel. (with
report from MARIZ REVALES)