8 high school students hurt in clash with DepEd guards

MANILA, Philippines – Eight high school students were injured when they clashed with security guards at the compound of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Pasig City yesterday.

The students and the DepEd security guards are preparing charges and counter-charges before the Pasig City police.

Police Community Precinct 1 chief Senior Inspector Roderick Tonga said at least 50 students from the Ramon Magsaysay High School, Lagro High School, Culiat High School and Quirino High School entered the DepEd compound by pretending to be relatives of employees at about 11 a.m. yesterday.

Kenneth Tirado, DepEd public information office chief, said the students gathered at the main building, displayed placards they pulled out from their bags, and held a rally demanding a dialogue with Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

League of Filipino Students (LFS) media officer Aki Merced said they went to the DepEd office to talk to Luistro and report that some high schools were forcing students to pay for illegal fees.

Upon learning Luistro was unavailable, the students became unruly and started pushing against and tapping the building’s glass windows, Tirado said.

At this juncture, the security guards stepped in and pushed the students away to prevent the glass windows from being destroyed. Tirado alleged that one of the students punched a security guard, triggering a brawl.

According to Tirado, several security guards were also sent to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Tonga identified the injured students as Gofer Santos, Mark Gil Gamido, Ivan Bontorostro, Raymond  Ubero, James Anajao, Ronald Gustillo, Jonjon Bautista and Anna Tolentino, LFS deputy secretary general. They were sent home after being treated at the Rizal Medical Center.

Tonga invited for questioning DepEd security commander Edelberto Santos and his men Erlindo Sumaot, Merven Delilis, Eriberto Lasic, Joliven Balagon, all from the Commander Security Agency.