DepEd official in Talisay rejects principal's claims

CEBU, Philippines - A Department of Education (DepEd)-Talisay City division official has denied the allegation that she was behind the complaint which has caused the dismissal of Maria Lourdes Ipong, former principal of Talisay City Central School (TCCS).

"Maybe she runs out of reasons mao nang bisan kinsa na lang ang iyang gipasanginlan," Hermosa said.

Ipong, in her motion for reconsideration she filed in the Office of the Ombudsman last week, implicated Hermosa, saying it was she who secured the evidence to be used in the complaint.

The Office of the Ombudsman, in a decision issued last March, dismissed Ipong from service as principal of Tangke Elementary School for dishonesty and falsification of documents.

The decision was in relation to the complaint filed by the Talisay City Swimming and Life Saving Association Inc. (TCSLSAI) last 2007 against Ipong who allegedly pocketed P12,600 supposedly meant for the swimsuits of the TCCS athletes that competed in the 2006 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) in Bohol.

Ipong said Hermosa was envious of her as she was close to then DepEd-Talisay City division superintendent Carmelita Dulangon and beat her in almost all regional and national competitions.

At the time the case was filed, Hermosa was principal of Mohon Elementary School.

According to the former TCCS principal, it was Hermosa who often met with the Talisay City Hall officials to discuss about her case, wherein she was not invited.

Ipong said one of the factors why she blamed Hermosa for the case was her connection to TCSLSAI that was then headed by her brother, Rolando Remolino.

But for her part, Hermosa, who is now DepEd-Talisay City assistant division superintendent, refuted all of Ipong's claims, saying that those behind the filing of the complaint were already old enough to do it themselves that they would not need any assistance.

Apart from Remolino, TCSLSAI officials Ulysses Fernandez, treasurer; Alfie Fernandez, Vice President; and Annie Gabasa, secretary, and their spiritual advisers Fr. Tito Soquiño and Fr. Murphy Sarsonas were also named complainants to the case.

"Why should I envy her? In the first place unsa may rason nga masuya ko niya? While in fact assistant superintendent na intawon ko ug nakahibawo ang mga taga Talisay og giunsa nako pag-abot ani akong posisyon karon and I have earned it in high grades. Wala ko'y tawong giyatakan, wala ko'y tawong gitumban ug nganong magsuya-suya man ko?" Hermosa said.

Hermosa appealed to the dismissed principal to focus on the issue at hand and not implicate her in the case as it would not keep her off the hook.

"Usa lang gyud ang akong ipahinumdum niya tubaga og tarong ang isyu, dili niya tubagon og laing pamasangil ug pagpamahid og laing mga tawo," she said.

Ipong, in a press conference last week, declared war against Hermosa and threatened to slap her with a separate case.

But Hermosa remains unperturbed, saying she is willing to face the case believing that "I am standing on solid ground." (FREEMAN)