Harassment at IP schools continues

AN official of a community-based school for Indigenous Peoples and members of Save our Schools (SOS) Network yesterday called for a stop of what they described as military harassments against teachers and administrators of IP schools.

Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon executive director Ronie S Garcia, in a press conference at the Haran Compound, said the situation of teachers and administrators in lumad schools in Mindanao has gone worst.

“Nahimong alarming kini, ug nahimong systematic, personally sa akoa, sa akong mga kaubanang magtutudlo (It has become so alarming, because the harassment became systematic. I experienced personally and our fellow teachers), the 28-year-old Matigsalog educator said.

Garcia cited that last July 24, he claimed to havve experienced harassment from the military when he and his family went to Regional Medical Center of Tagum to attend the needs of his father.

“Akong ginikanan mismo nakakita ug usa ka tao nga naay dala na armas,” Garcia said adding that someone also approached his parents and asked them how they are related to him.

Garcia this case is not isolated since way back in 2014, he also experienced indiscriminate firing at Sitio Nasilaban, Talaingod within the vicinity of a Salugpongan Community School.

He also said that he also experienced being followed by suspicious-looking and unidentified men while he was going back in Davao when he attended an educator’s conference in Cotabato.

“We are now very worried because the attack is not only schools but to personnel, teachers, administrators of the Lumad schools as well,” Garcia said.

Convenor of Save our

School Network and chair of Salugpongan board of trustees, Prof. Luzviminda Ilagan, also said this form of harassment only alarmed the teachers more.

"These harassments should stop, because this is not right, teachers are now facing many challenges, and this is an added burden to them, I hope that this will stop,” Ilagan said.

Ilagan said that with the pronouncement and declaration of unilateral ceasefire by President Rodrigo Duterte, the military should also stop these acts. KVC