No pact with mayor, say Taguig-Pateros principals

School principals in Taguig and Pateros have denied allegations that they were made to sign a pledge of allegiance to Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga in exchange for financial incentives.

Dr. Evangeline Ladines, president of the Philippine Elementary School Principals Association (PESPA) Taguig-Pateros chapter, said a statement made by Domingo Alidon, president of the Department of Education Employees Union, that Tinga made several principals sign a pledge of allegiance was "highly irresponsible and a flat-out lie."

"I know that there are a few principals and teachers who are at odds with the city government and that they have been trying to undermine the present administration’s efforts to improve the educational system in Taguig. But this is appalling. To resort to outright lying is definitely an insult both to the local government and to the principals of Taguig," Ladines said.

Tinga said that while the DepEd Employees Union has the right to file charges against politicians pressuring educators, he stressed that they should first get their facts.

He said Alidon was obviously misinformed or misled and that the latter should retract his statement to clear the names and reputation of the principals he had maligned.

Another principal who requested anonymity, noted that it was Taguig-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano who has allegedly been pressuring DepEd to appoint his people to posts.

"We call on the Department of Education to put the division in order. We are really working for the advancement of professionalism in the education sector and all our efforts will be put to waste if they don’t act now," the official said.

PESPA called on DepEd to look into the questionable promotions of people, who are not qualified for their positions.

Meanwhile, Cayetano said that as a congressman, he is expected to work closely with the DepEd national office.

"We discuss matters such as construction of new school buildings as well as other education-related projects. I am also concerned for city education officials to strictly follow DepEd regulations. There is no truth to their claims that I am influencing DepEd so that I can have some people appointed as education officials in Taguig and Pateros," he said.

He stressed that DepEd should function as an independent entity and that it is improper for the local government to interfere with DepEd appointments.

"What happens is that when a principal goes against the wishes of the mayor, he or she would not get any support from the city government," Cayetano pointed out.