ILOILO – The newly-installed division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) in this province vowed to look into the alleged recruitment of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in schools.
Dr. Roel Bermejo officially assumed the post on Oct. 1. He said he has yet to receive a status report on the alleged recruitment.
In August, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) announced it was ready to deploy soldiers in schools to stop the NPA recruitment of students via front organizations. A “preventive measure” was how Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, 3ID spokesperson, described the planned deployment.
On his first day as DepEd-Iloilo division superintendent, Bermejo discussed with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. priority programs in education.
“We will focus on the implementation of the K-12 basic curriculum and improve the delivery of instruction, and conduct assessment that will be the basis for the appropriate adjustment in the implementation of the curriculum,” Bermejo said.
He asked the support of the Iloilo provincial government.
Defensor, on the other hand, proposed developmental initiatives, specifically remedial reading programs and the improvement of sanitation facilities.
The 3ID will be coordinating with the local police, school authorities, Department of Education, and Commission on Higher Education, said Pancito.
“We will be there to assist school authorities neutralize communist rebel intrusions,” said Pancito. “There is no militarization of schools. This is a preventive measure. Students are vulnerable. We do not want rebels to conduct recruitment activities in schools.”
He also clarified that not all schools would be posted with soldiers
“If we see no threat, we will not deploy personnel,” he stressed.
Pancito urged to parents to monitor the activities of their children and dissuade them from joining militant groups that, he said, were “legal fronts” of the NPA.
Serving the DepEd for 28 years, Bermejo used to be a classroom teacher, principal, and educational program supervisor.
He was formerly division superintendent of Capiz. He replaced Dr. Miguel Mac Aposin who was reassigned to Aklan. (PNA)
