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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara urges respect in politics, warns against involving the deceased

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara urges respect in politics, warns against involving the deceased

Published Nov 26, 2025 05:44 pm
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara calls for decency in political discourse, warning against using the names of deceased individuals in attacks. (DepEd file photo)
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara calls for decency in political discourse, warning against using the names of deceased individuals in attacks. (DepEd file photo)
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday, November 26, urged political groups and critics to maintain respect in public discourse. He stressed that while personal attacks may occur in politics, involving the deceased is unacceptable.
“We can take demolition jobs; that’s part of being in politics — pero ’wag naman sana idamay yung patay na dahil ’di na makasagot ’yon (but hopefully, let’s not involve the dead — because they can no longer answer back),” Angara said in a post on X.

Although he did not name specific individuals or incidents, Angara’s remarks come amid heightened political exchanges related to major policy changes and ongoing discussions in the Philippine education sector.
Angara is the son of former Senate President Edgardo Angara, who passed away at 83 in May 2018 due to an apparent heart attack.
Public reaction and social media support
Netizens have supported his post, emphasizing that exploiting the names or memories of the deceased for political gain is both unfair and insensitive.
Many online supporters also called for responsible political discourse on social media, particularly amid the rapid spread of misinformation.
Flood control controversy and Angara’s response
The discussion about political ethics surfaced alongside allegations related to a flood control controversy.
The issue first emerged in September when Undersecretary Trygve L. Olaivar was mentioned during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged anomalies in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
READ: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/25/official-linked-to-flood-control-mess-takes-voluntary-leave-deped
To allow due process, Olaivar took a voluntary leave of absence and later submitted his resignation to Malacañang in November, which was confirmed by DepEd.
In a recent ambush interview at the reopening of the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City, Angara denied any involvement in the flood control controversy and dismissed calls for his resignation.
“Hearsay lang ’yung nandoon sa akin, tapos wala pang specific accusation (It is just hearsay, and there’s still no specific accusation),” he said, emphasizing that there is no transaction, document, testimony, or formal complaint linking him to any wrongdoing.
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/19/hearsay-lang-depeds-angara-dismisses-resignation-talk-amid-alleged-flood-control-mess

Related Tags

Sonny Angara DepEd political attacks public discourse respect Edgardo Angara Philippines news political ethics flood control controversy
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