MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan Bloc of the House of Representatives on Monday, 04 November 2019, filed House Resolution No. 476 to investigate the closure of 55 Lumad schools.

In a statement, Kabataan Partylist said they strongly hold their firm position that Lumad schools promote integrative learning including the preservation of Indigenous culture.

“Lumad schools are avenues of learning and a mode of access for the Lumad to attain education,” Kabataan Partylist said in their statement.

Kabataan Partylist condemned the closure of the schools especially that it goes against their right to self-determination.

Six legislators forming the progressive Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives are calling for a congressional investigation into the temporary shutdown of 55 Lumad schools in Southern Mindanao.

The following legislators earlier filed House Resolution (HR) No. 58 on July 15: Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite, of Bayan Muna,  France Castro, of Alliance of Concerned Teachers,  Arlene Brosas, of Gabriela Women’s Party,  and Sarah Elago, of Kabataan.

According to the lawmakers, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) temporary closure of 55 schools catering to indigenous peoples in Southern Mindanao is a “flagrant violation” of the rights of Salugpungan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Centers, which owns and operates the schools.

“The suspension order was issued in flagrant violation (of) the due process rights of Salugpungan, its administrators, teachers, staff, and students,” said the Makabayan bloc in HR No. 58.

They also slammed the DepEd for releasing a copy of the suspension order to the media before informing Salugpungan first.

“It is not only unjust and unethical, but clearly smacks of discrimination against the Lumad of Salugpungan,” said the legislators.

The DepEd based its closure order on the report of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, who chairs the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

According to the task force, the Lumad schools allegedly deviated from the curriculum set by the DepEd, and school officials supposedly required learners to join anti-government rallies. The task force also claimed that the schools teach students to rebel against the government.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself had made the same allegation against the Lumad schools, and even threatened to “bomb” the schools, they said.

The Makabayan lawmakers, however, criticized the continuous red-tagging of Lumad schools.

The legislators said the administrators, students, teachers, and staff of the Lumad schools, particularly the Salugpungan schools, have been continuously subjected to red-tagging, vilification, and harassment for several years.(STACY  ANG/IAMIGO/CNS)