DepEd-Armm honors outstanding teachers

Friday, October 07, 2016

THE Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-Armm) has honored 10 outstanding teachers as the region joined the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day.

The World Teachers’ Day, held annually on October 5 since 1994, commemorates teacher organizations worldwide.

Its aim is to mobilize support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

DepEd-Armm Secretary John Magno said the awards serve as recognition for the invaluable services of teachers in the learning and development processes of students in the region and to the education department.

“Malaki ang respeto ko sa mga gurong ang iniisip ay ang kinabukasan ng kabataan at hindi ang kanilang pansariling interes,” Magno said.

Five of the outstanding teachers are in the elementary school category and the other five from the secondary level category.

The winners in the elementary level are the following: Fridanovie Rabor of Datu Saililah Elementary School, Maguindanao I Division; Gideon Dable of Limpongo Elementary School, Maguindanao I Division; Susan Berganio of Nuro Central Elementary School, Maguindanao II Division; Maria Helena Barlovento of Maluso Central Elementary School, Basilan Division; and, Romel Plando of Hji. Yunos Jumdain Elementary School, Tawi-Tawi Division.

The secondary school category winners are as follows: Asnawi Rakiin of Datu Mamintal Adiong National High School, Lanao Sur I Division; Primo Sanosa, Jr. of Malabang National High School, Lanao Sur II Division; Melba Abdulla of Maluso National High School, Basilan Division; Grace Ann Pangambayan of Sulu National High School, Sulu Division; and, Jaime Mendoza, Jr. of Parang National High School in Parang, Maguindanao.

The DepEd-Armm is composed of nine schools divisions namely: Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Magno said that a total of 25 teacher qualifiers underwent screenings that include panel interviews, written examinations, teaching demonstration and a review of qualifiers' pertinent documents.

He said the winners were conferred with plaques and cash prizes.

The regional celebration of the World Teachers’ Day is anchored on the theme “Guro, Kabalikat sa Pagbabago.” (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)

Tapatan sa ARMM with DepEd-ARMM.

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Dr. John Magno, ARMM's DepEd secretary, and Marjuni Maddi, DepEd-ARMM assistant secretary for academics, answered queries from the media in a press conference dubbed "Tapatan sa ARMM" on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the region's seat in Cotabato City.
While the department has worked on its database management system, which contains data on students, teachers, and classrooms and school buildings, Sec. Magno said "There are still many things to work with."
Sec. Magno announced that the department has a House-approved P12 billion budget for 2017. 96% of the budget will be allocated for Personnel Services, and the remaining four percent will be allocated for the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of all schools and schools division across the region.
With 29,992 plantilla positions across the ARMM, including 26,000 teaching force, the region still needs more than 1,400 teachers, ASec. Maddi noted.
The ARMM is composed of nine schools divisions namely, Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (Bureau of Public Information)

Lanao Sur mayor cries foul over ‘false reports’ on dimissal order

by: MARIZ REVELES /GMANews.TV

Dismissed Balabagan town mayor of Lanao del Sur on Friday lashed out at some onlinemedia for falsely reporting that the order by the Office of the Ombudsman for herdismissal includes the cancellation of her eligibility and perpetual disqualification from holding office and forfeiture of her retirement benefits.

Mayor Edna Ogka-Benito, who is medical doctor by profession, told GMA News Online that, "I was dismayed and humiliated by the baseless reports."

Citing the Ombudsman Order on Case No. OMB-M-A-15-0090, Benito said: “There were no words from the order that says “cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of benefits. The only statements were “accessories penalties.”

^{Photo of a part of the Ombudsman dismissal order against Mayor Edna Ogka-Benito of Balabagan town in Lanao del Sur.}

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She said that some media reports on Sept. 26, 2016  said that, "Aside from dismissal from service, Ogka-Benito was also meted the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits."

Also, Mayor Benito said she "might sue the people who could be behind this character assassination for issuing baseless and irresponsible reports because of the mental anguish brought by such reports."

On the other hand, she also lashed out at the Ombudsman for "immediately implementing  the order without giving due regard to her position paper" and the Department of Interior and Local government (DILG) for enforcing it.

“I did not mind to seek  the rule of condonation under the "Aguinaldo Doctrine " which says that if the guilty public official will be elected, administrative cases will dropped.  

"I was elected and was given fresh mandate by my constituents," Benito said.

Moreover, she said that the irresponsible reports have great effect on her, especially that she cannot afford to give up her profession as medical doctor. “I did not acquire this profession from my political practices.”

She said that her case is now with  the Court of Appeals pending "petition  for review.”

The Ombudsman ordered Mayor Benito dismissed after finding her guilty of grave misconduct for ignoring the established rules on payment of salaries and leave approval.

In its decision, the Ombudsman directed the Regional Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to implement the order, which is "immediately executory notwithstanding any motion for reconsideration or appeal."

Benito’s offense stemmed from her failure to act on the leave application and payment of back salaries of municipal budget officer Sarahlyn Masbod in 2014.

But Benito argued that: “I required all the employees to submit their original appointment and  I required her to produce a copy of her [Masbod] appointment as municipal budget officer, but  she did not show credible proof of the appointment.

She said that the complainant instead filed a vacation leave and sick leave applications through snailmail, which Benito said she did not act on because she was already "absent without leave" (AWOL)  and she was already dropped from the roll that affirmed through a memorandum by the Sagguniang Bayan through Resolution No.41.

But the Ombudsman ruled in favor of the complainant citing  RA 3019, which states that "it is unlawful for any public officer to neglect or refuse to act without sufficient justification for a reasonable time after due demand or request has been made..." —

Lanao Sur mayor, vice mayor deny as drug lord, pusher

 MARIZ REVALES

Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao del Sur - Father and son tandem and local executives of this town  vehemently denied the allegations that they are involved in the drug trade. The political clan of the Dipatuan are known to be drug busters even before President Duterte elected and declared war against illegal drugs.  

Former Mayor Jaffar Dipatuan ,now the concurrent Vice mayor told GMANews.TV  said  the report sent to Malacanang that he is a drug lord with only “ concern citizen as signatory is baseless  and aim  to destroy our credibility as local executives”.

He said no one will believe it, since everybody in their town knew that even before   President Rodrigo Duterte became president and declared war against illegal drugs, we already implemented against illegal drugs.

Former  mayor Dipatuan,  in 2007 when he became the mayor, he sent more than  fifty (50)  drug dependents to provincial jail and also busted criminal activities  such as carnapping.

In his part, Mayor Moihamin Dipatuan, the son had also categorically denied the allegations that he is a  drug pusher and said that this is  a handiwork of their political opponents which up to now cannot accept defeat and will not cooperate to the development of their municipality.

He said, they are seriously supporting   the campaign and program of President Duterte,  “  in Bacolod-Kalawi since we implemented Oplan Tokhang, there are  180 drug dependents who surrendered and for them to monitor we have undergone Zumba session every Sunday and through this drug dependents feel that they are still part of our community  ,” Dipatuan said.

Chairman of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Saipoden Polao also disclosed that the cowardice reports against the Dipatuan is baseless and it not true since he knew the Dipatuans personally.

Mayor Dipatuan said P/insp. Sainodin Benasing, Chief of Police continued Oplan Tokhang and Double barrel in the different barangays with different barangay captains with positive results.

The Dipatuans assured the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte that they will be supportive of his campaign against illegal drugs,  “our country is very lucky having this kind of President and we will implements his directive in Davao City during our meeting that we have to continue the war against illegal drugs”.

He said, they were challenged are encourage to do more in improving the lives of their constituents and provide more development of their town.