ILOILO – The Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Iloilo has strongly condemned an alleged act of voyeurism involving a male scout leader at the 2024 Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Provincial Jamboree in Calinog town.
The incident reportedly occurred on the evening of November 25 in Barangay Libot, Calinog, where approximately 7,000 participants had gathered for the event, running from November 24 to 29.
The alleged misconduct involved a 57-year-old male teacher from the town of Bingawan, who was accused of secretly recording a 31-year-old female teacher from the municipality of Ajuy while she was using an improvised comfort room.
According to the female teacher, the suspect placed a cellphone in a hole under the structure, but she noticed it and raised an alarm.
The male teacher was immediately apprehended and brought to the Calinog Municipal Police Station but was released on November 26.
The female teacher is currently preparing legal charges for violating Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act or the “Bawal Bastos Law”.
In response to the incident, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. released an official statement emphasizing DepEd’s zero-tolerance policy against acts of abuse, harassment, and exploitation.
“DepEd prioritizes the safety and well-being of learners and participants in all activities under its purview, and such behavior, if proven, is unequivocally condemned,” Servillon stated.
He assured that the Schools Division Office (SDO) is taking the incident seriously and has initiated legal procedures to protect the victim’s welfare.
The SDO is also coordinating with local authorities, the BSP, and other relevant agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate action against the suspect.
Additionally, DepEd-Iloilo committed to providing psychosocial support to the female teacher.
Servillon appealed for the incident to be viewed as isolated and not to overshadow the noble objectives of DepEd and the scouting movement.
“Infractions of our existing policies by any individual/s shall have corresponding consequences,” he stressed./PN
