Ombuds to DepEd: Probe ‘hakot’ students at session

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Education Region 7 has been tasked by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the disputed transport of students to Plaza Sugbo and Cebu City Hall last April.

In an endorsement dated August 18, 2026, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante Vargas forwarded to Regional Director Arturo Bayocot Resolution No. 17-3464-2026 of the Cebu City Council, which sought to determine whether minors were misled or improperly mobilized to attend a council session.

The Ombudsman directed DepEd to acknowledge receipt and report back its findings.

The Cebu City Council received the resolution itself on August 27, 2026, and the council then noted it.

The incident stemmed from the April 21 council session where buses ferried senior high school students to City Hall during deliberations on the accreditation of the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) Pit-os campus for inclusion in the city’s scholarship program.

Students reportedly believed they were attending a scholarship orientation but instead found themselves in the middle of a heated debate.

Some were visibly distressed after the council voted 8–7 against ACTIEF’s accreditation.

Resolution No. 17-3464-2026 raised concerns over possible violations of child protection laws, data privacy, and DepEd regulations on off-campus activities. It also flagged potential liability under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act if officials were found to have used minors to influence legislative proceedings.

The resolution was earlier transmitted to the Ombudsman, the National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division, and the PNP Women and Children Protection Center for parallel scrutiny.

Earlier, Councilor Alvin Arcilla, who authored the accreditation proposal, defended the students’ presence, saying council sessions are open to the public.

But Councilor Mikel Rama described the incident as “heartbreaking,” stressing that minors may have been misled.

The controversy has since drawn public attention to the safeguards required under DepEd Order No. 66, s—2017, which mandates parental consent and strict supervision for off-campus activities.

The outcome of DepEd’s investigation will be crucial in determining accountability and ensuring that minors are protected from being drawn into political disputes. — /IHM (FREEMAN)