'Harassment' during seminar?: Oliva's inclusion in probe sought

The education consultant of Cebu City, former partylist Rep. Joy Augustus Young, wants an investigation against Department of Education division superintendent Leonilo Oliva for still allowing religious seminars in public schools despite the city government's recommendation to stop it.

Young said he has long recommended to Mayor Tomas Osmeña to stop religious seminars in public schools during class hours because these cut into their school time, Oliva confirmed receiving the memorandum from the city government last year but he insisted on ignoring it.

Contrary to Young's observation, Oliva said he does not think the seminars are affecting the academic performance of the students. Besides Oliva said the students also need spiritual transformation through religious seminars.

Recently, at a seminar being handled by the Oasis of Love community at the Abellana National School, 19 students accused a priest of sexually harassing them.

But, while Oliva insisted that holding seminars does not hamper the academic activities of the students, he admitted that the 19 students of Abellana left their classes to attend the seminar.

Young said that the incident in Abellana could have been avoided if Oliva had followed instructions, because of this he will ask the mayor to include Oliva in the ongoing investigation into the allegations of the students that they were harassed by the priest.

Despite this, Oliva said he will continue to allow seminars in public schools, he also said DepEd is also willing to assist the family of the students should they decide to file criminal charges against the priest.

The identity of the priest remains confidential as the archdiocese refused to reveal his name. - Fred P. Languido/BRP