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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Enough with the hypocrisy': Teachers, education workers demand accountability from VP Sara Duterte

'Enough with the hypocrisy': Teachers, education workers demand accountability from VP Sara Duterte

Published Aug 9, 2024 02:22 pm

A group of teachers, academics, and education workers on Friday, Aug. 9, criticized Vice President and former Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte for her statement about resigning due to the “mishandling” of the national budget.

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Vice President and former DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)  

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, in a statement, described Duterte’s claim as a “glaring contradiction” to her “unconstitutional” use of confidential funds during her tenure at DepEd and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said it was “utterly hypocritical” for Duterte to cite budget mishandling as a reason for her resignation, given that she requested P250 million and received P125 million in confidential funds from the Office of the President’s contingent fund in 2022.

Quetua alleged that Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary was “marked by misplaced priorities and ineptitude” in addressing the problems plaguing the country’s education system.

Instead of focusing on resolving critical issues like extensive shortages and backlogs in basic education needs and improving teachers' and students’ welfare, Quetua claimed that Duterte “chose to align herself” with the NTF-ELCAC, engaging in red-tagging and state attacks against progressive unions and genuine representatives of the education sector.

“Her failure to act on these pressing matters, while prioritizing her role as a mouthpiece for repressive state policies, has only exacerbated the challenges faced by our teachers and students,” he added.

For ACT, Duterte’s resignation as DepEd Secretary “does not absolve her of responsibility for the further damage inflicted on our education system during her tenure.”

Quetua pointed out that Duterte’s attempt to deflect blame is a clear effort to “evade accountability.”

“She has disgracefully used the DepEd as a platform to boost her political viability, plunging the education system into a deeper crisis,” Quetua concluded.

RELATED STORY: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/19/why-did-sara-duterte-resign-as-dep-ed-secretary

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte Filipino teachers Sara Duterte ACT Philippines DepEd
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