ILOILO – The arrest of a public school teacher for alleged illegal drug involvement has sent shockwaves through the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office (SDO).
“We trusted that there were activities against drugs, but some still slipped through,” Dr. Ernesto F. Servillon Jr., SDO-Iloilo superintendent, said in an interview with Panay News.
On Sept. 24, John Hermosa Basiao, 58, a public high school teacher, was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Sara town by the joint operatives of the Sara Municipal Police Station and Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit – Special Operations Group. He allegedly sold one plastic sachet of what is suspected to be shabu to an undercover buyer.
“We were surprised since our schools seemed so peaceful; there were no indications that any of our personnel were recently involved in such activities,” Servillon added.
The principal of the school where Basiao taught submitted an incident report to the SDO-Iloilo’s legal team over the weekend. It will be forwarded to the DepEd Regional Office 6 and the DepEd central office.
“I was somewhat surprised that the principal had no idea,” Servillon said, but clarified that the principal cannot be blamed as Basiao might have been taking careful measures to conceal his outside-of-school activities.
Servillon, on the other hand, entrusted the filing of the case against the teacher to law enforcement.
Since the teacher has been arrested, he can file for an indefinite leave of absence until it’s determined if he’ll be allowed to post bail. Otherwise, the SDO-Iloilo will assess the administrative implications.
In the meantime, he assured that classes being held by the teacher are ongoing with a designated substitute.
Servillon reminded: “To all our personnel and learners, we are crafting programs and activities for your welfare. Please help us hone our future generations to become responsible and productive citizens of our communities. Join us in our plight to fight and prevent the intrusion of drugs into our schools! Stay away from drugs.”
Meanwhile, Basiao’s sister, Juliet, denied her brother’s involvement in illegal drugs.
“Wala gani sia sang signal kay naudtan (electricity). Bisan kuryente ya daw indi gani sia kabayad kay ang sweldo ya pila na man lang na. Ginakulang man. Amo na ang mabudlay sa tawo nga sobra ka alwan,” she said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
Juliet, who lives next to her brother’s house, added that early morning of Sept. 24 someone opened the door of the latter’s house.
“Sang adlaw nga to may naglagapok. May nag-abre sang puertahan sa balay sang magulang ko, may naabtan ako nga isa ka tawo,” she said.
She added that she was surprised when they were informed later that her brother was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation.
Actions taken
Following the incident, the SDO-Iloilo issued a directive requiring all principals and district supervisors in the province to closely monitor all teachers’ and learners’ activities.
“Gin-require ko ang principals and district supervisors nga i-closely monitor na ang activity sang aton learners and teachers nga nasakupan nila,” Servillon said.
He also communicated with the Federated Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president of SDO-Iloilo to urge parents to monitor the activities of their children.
The Public Affairs Unit of SDO-Iloilo was also ordered to draft a memorandum for organizing a school drug watch committee. The proposed committee members are the PTA, barangay captains, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit.
As such, Servillon is set to meet with Iloilo Police Provincial Office director Colonel Rolando Palomo to craft the school drug watch committee.
“The drug watch committee shall serve as a deterrent for others so they fear getting involved knowing someone is watching,” Servillon said.
Since he took office in May this year, Servillon said he had not received any reports of teachers or DepEd personnel being involved in illegal activities like drugs, aside from the recent one.
SDO-Iloilo has 22,452 personnel composed of teachers, supervisors, school heads, and non-teaching personnel.
There are 473,573 learners in Iloilo: Kindergarten to Grade 6 – 241,403; junior high school – 153,932; and senior high school – 78,238.
Stakeholders are encouraged to report information about the involvement of any school personnel in illegal activities or any concerns, suggestions or queries to the local complaint platform “Ipalab-ot kay SDS” through 09619580507 or 09672511587 or via email at pac.sdoiloilo@deped.gov.ph.
“It’s now open and operational. We foresee that we will cater to and address the needs and problems of our stakeholders, and students and teachers through the platform we are currently using,” Servillon said.
DepEd-6 assures schools are safe
DepEd 6 spokesperson, Hernani Escullar Jr., expressed sadness upon learning that some teachers were involved in illegal drugs.
Aside from the teacher from Sara, another was arrested in Guimaras.
Al Ray Catalbas, 38, of Barangay Aguilar, San Lorenzo town, fell in a buy-bust operation on Sept. 21.
“We are saddened by the incident. The involved division offices are doing their part to address this issue. We are guiding them to ensure that schools remain safe and that learning continues,” said Escullar.
He added that school principals are empowered to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that the learners of said teachers will not suffer learning loss.
He assured that DepEd-6, led by Dr. Ramir B. Uytico, will continue implementing the MATATAG Agenda. It aims to bring a new direction in resolving the country’s basic education challenges.
“We will continue to ensure that our schools are safe and free from anything that will, somehow, inflict harm and endanger the lives of learners and personnel; that learning will continue and not be hampered if any untoward incident occurs,” Escullar added.
DepEd-6 hotlines are open for the public and stakeholders to provide any complaints and information that will help keep schools a safe place to learn, he also said. Any information will be referred to the concerned division office for prompt and necessary action.
Data showed there are 71,948 teaching personnel and 10,374 non-teaching personnel in DepEd-6.
There are 2,008,698 learners in the region for school year 2023-2024: public schools – 1,808,205; private schools – 197,451; and state universities and colleges/local colleges and universities – 3,042./PN
