FAPSA backs Roco vs critics, believes Malacañang behind attacks

Education Secretary Raul Roco has found an unlikely ally in the Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA) that expressed suspicion Malacañang was behind the moves to kick him out of the Department of Education (DepEd).

In a statement, FAPSA president Eleazar Kasilag said that Malacañang must be orchestrating the moves to oust Roco because he is becoming a threat to President Arroyo.

"I personally believe the trouble now besetting Roco is orchestrated. The threat to Malacañang is not (jailed President) Estrada but Roco," he said.

The DepEd Central Employees Union (DepEd-CEU) has been demanding the ouster of Roco for his alleged "dictatorial management style" and his hiring of highly-paid consultants. Roco was also criticized for hiring a chopper for P217,292 when he visited some school sites in Cabanatuan City, Baguio City, La Trinidad, Sagada and Nueva Ecija last Oct. 10 and 11.

Since Thursday, the union has been holding a protest rally at the DepEd compound during lunchtime to press their demand.

Kasilag added that as Malacañang works to clear the path for the 2004 presidential bid of Mrs. Arroyo "they cannot take Roco for granted."

He said that while they do not agree with some of Roco’s programs, they found him "simply good and sincere" and he has become a big threat to Malacañang.

"Roco may not be the best educator but he is the best politician among all educators. He makes DepEd an agency that never sleeps meriting the top government agency that is most trusted," he added.

FAPSA opposes the curriculum reforms that DepEd is set to implement this June and the changing of the wordings of the "Panatang Makabayan" which Roco initiated. But Kasilag said that under Roco’s leadership, "public schools got the courage to compete with private schools and they start to gain ground.

"The private schools believe that the country shall be best reigned by an educator this time," he added.