Teacher faces raps over Facebook posts on faculty room

MANILA, Philippines — A public school teacher may face charges for posting on Facebook that a toilet was converted into a faculty room at a public school in Bacoor, Cavite. 

In a report on ABS-CBN News, Anita Rom, principal of the Bacoor National High School, said they are eyeing the  filing of an administrative case and cyberlibel charges against  Maricel Herrera for damaging the image of the school and the Department of Education (DepEd). 

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, meanwhile, said the teachers supposedly chose the toilet as faculty area because it is “more dramatic and touching.”

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) yesterday condemned the threats against Herrera, which it described as a case of union repression and violation of academic freedom.

The ACT said the case is not unique, citing similar experiences at the Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City and Calderon High School in Manila. 

“(Herrera) is being shamed and punished for speaking the  truth... a courageous act to stand for the welfare of teachers who were plopped in a dismal condition, but the powers-that-be took offense and now threatens her employment,” it said. 

“The DepEd only has itself to blame that it was put in bad light when the government’s inefficiencies were exposed. The deficiencies are of the government’s doing and not of the teachers,” the ACT said.

“Bringing it out in the open is simple truth-telling and aimed at calling the attention of authorities to address the education crisis, a citizen’s basic right in a democracy,” the organization said.