The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol is now in the process of investigating the alleged bag burning incident which occurred on Friday at Bicol Central Academy (BCA) in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.
According to Rappler’s report, several students’ bags were burned as punishment upon the orders of BCA’s administrator, Alexander James Jaucian.
DepEd’s Bicol director Gilbert Sadsad said in a statement sent to Rappler that they were “deeply saddened” by the alleged incident.
Sadsad said: “While we cannot sanction the offending person because he is under the jurisdiction of the authorities of a private school, we will be reviewing our policies if we can provide sanctions in terms of possible revocation of the school’s permit to operate and other benefits provided by the government.”
DepEd has already asked BCA for a written explanation about the incident.
In a report by News 5, DepEd secretary Leonor Briones told BCA’s school board to decide whether to suspend Jaucian or order him to go on leave in light of the incident.
Photos and a video of the incident were shared on Twitter and Facebook on Friday by a netizen named Earl Vincent Cañaveral, who introduced himself as a former student of BCA. His Twitter post has been reposted more than 15,000 times while his Facebook post has been shared almost 140 times.
In the video shared by Cañaveral, a man could be heard shouting in Filipino: “You’re stupid!”
Charred remains of bags were also shown in photos. In his Facebook post, Cañaveral wrote that the bags contained “school stuff, cellphones and laptops.”
Bags of students who have failed to comply the no-bag policy set for the school’s event today have been confiscated and burned in the school quadrangle. The said bag contains school stuff, clothings, cp and laptops.
Sadly, the school involved is my alma mater.
SHAME. pic.twitter.com/D8ICip6ae0
— earl vincent (@Surrearlism) August 17, 2018
Moreover, he just not burned the bags of those students but he also called his students stupid. Sir, we had enough. This is not education at all. pic.twitter.com/XqD6vBnfqk
— earl vincent (@Surrearlism) August 17, 2018
Manila Bulletin reported that the students apparently failed to comply with BCA’s no-bag policy for an event called Tatsumaki day, where the students replaced teachers who went to a government-organized seminar.
In Manila Bulletin‘s interview with Cañaveral, he said: “Part of it was that they need to wear formal attires so that they will look like professionals. Since they are wearing such, they were told not to bring any big bags or backpacks since it will not look good with their attires.”
According to a tweet posted by Cañaveral, the students’ belongings were burned at the school’s quadrangle.
Coconuts Manila tried to get in touch with Cañaveral for an interview but he said that he has decided not to talk about the issue anymore.
“I, together with some of the victims, decided that precautionary measures must be taken so to (sic) preserve our mental well being against the harshful (sic) comments we are currently receiving. Also, since it was being handled by DepEd, we decided not to do more interviews. We are truly sorry. I hope it will be fine with you. Thank you,” he said in a Facebook message.
Netizens were understandably upset by what allegedly occurred in the school.
In one of the Facebook accounts which reposted Cañaveral’s photos and video, a Michelle Jumamoy commented: “Even if he’s [school administrator] angry, he had no right to burn students’ properties because the poor parents bought those. His teacher’s license should be revoked. Rude.”
Fham Macaraig wrote: “It’s scary to think that you enrolled your child in a private school thinking that they’ll be safe and they will learn what’s right. But they’ll only get traumatized. Abusive admin.”
Meanwhile, Angel Lica wrote: “If I were one of the students’ parents, I’ll ask the school to pay me back for the gadgets that were destroyed. They could have just confiscated [them] why do they have to burn them?”
