Abalos says he has backing of La Salle alumni

It’s not only he who thinks there is something wrong with the education system in De La Salle, but its graduates as well, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos claimed yesterday.

According to Abalos, the alumni association of De La Salle has informed him they intend to take up his cause and will protest the way the school is "polluting" the minds of young students with its supposedly politically-biased teachings.

"I heard that there is a move from the La Salle Alumni association to join me in my protest against the kind of educational system La Salle has right now," he said.

Abalos’ gripe against one of the country’s best-known schools stems from a question included in a quiz bee in which one of his grandsons participated last month. One of the questions asked which Comelec official had helped to pad votes in favor of President Arroyo in the 2004 election.

Abalos sent a letter to the La Salle-Greenhills (LSGH) grade school principal Evangeline Tamaca to express his strong displeasure over the question, which he claimed had affected his grandson, a fifth grader.

"It would have been okay if they asked who is the Comelec official being accused of helping Mrs. Arroyo rig the results of the presidential elections but they asked it in a way that (showed) they are already passing judgment on us," Abalos noted.

The Comelec chief pointed out no one among the poll body has been officially charged with manipulating the results of last year’s presidential elections.

On the other hand, Tamaca maintained yesterday the question was properly asked and not meant to insult Abalos nor any official mentioned.

Meanwhile, in a phone interview with The STAR, an LSGH alumni representative, who declined to be identified, said there is no investigation being made, nor were there plans to file a complaint against any of the school officials including Tamaca. — Mayen Jaymalin, Sandy Araneta