TENSIONS GRIP DEPED MARAWI SCHOOLS DIVISION OVER DESIGNATION ORDER OF THE OIC PRINCIPAL

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) 12^th 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)