DavNor DepEd Chief pleads to army, NPAs to battle far from schools

DAVAO DEL NORTE, November 7 (PIA) - - “Whatever your agenda are, leave the children and teachers out of your encounter.”

Josephine Fadul, provincial schools superintendent, appealed to the Philippine Army and the New People’s Army during the Kapihan ng Kapitolyo yesterday at the PIO Mini-studio, Tagum City.

Fadul plead to the two armed groups to engage their encounters far from schools after a series of armed conflicts disturbed the classes of a private school in Sitio Nasilaban, Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod on October.

Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, a private school in the sitio, sent a letter to various international and national agencies expressing their disgust on the alleged military malpractices including what they called a “firing free” that impeded their classes last month.

This was later answered by the military under the 68th Infantry Batallion denying all accusations and saying that it was their troops that suffered casualties from the attacks of the NPA.

To clear out the issues, the DepEd called a close-door dialogue between the school and the military yesterday morning at the division’s conference room, Mankilam, Tagum City.

Fadul disclosed that both the parties agreed the school will continue with their classes and the military’s camp will move further away from the school.

“Since we cannot control the other troops (referring to the NPA), we requested the army to move a little bit further so that the school will no longer be caught if ever there will be a cross fire again,” she added.

Fadul also pointed out that there were miscommunications between the two groups since the concern was brought by the school to the international and national level instead of settling it first in the local scene.

“In fact, it was our central office who knew about it first; so I told them to resolve it in the local with your LGU before bringing it to the regional, national or even to the international agencies,” she said referring to the private school.

Fadul also said that during the dialogue, it was a common point of all the parties to look into the welfare of the children. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)