Sara Duterte calls ACT members liars over alleged lack of allowances for teachers

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday called out the Alliance of Concerned Teachers over allegations that the city was the only one in the country that did not give allowances to public school teachers.

The daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte called members of ACT-Davao City terrorists and liars.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Sara said the city gave its public school teachers gift cheques worth P2,000 each a year in December 2016 and 2017.

"Kung puwede lang sana kayo i-expel outside of Davao City. I waited for your paper and yet you always keep missing opportunities for unity, because you are never sincere," Sara said.

"DepEd should dismiss terrorists from their ranks, how ironic for government to pay public money to people who work against the government," she added.

A post by Radyo ni Juan quoted ACT-Teachers-Davao as saying Cebu City gives its public school teachers P10,000 a year; Cagayan de Oro City, P7,650; Koronadal City, P3,000; General Santos City, P2,000; Island Garden City of Samal, P1,500; Davao City, zero.

"In December 2016 and 2017, the City Government of Davao gave gift cheques worth Php 2,000/person/year to all teaching and non-teaching employees of DepEd," Sara said.

"We have copies of the budget, pictures of distribution and the liquidation with all signatures. Pahirapan pa nga magpa approve ng grant ninyo at kami pa ang nasa alanganin and you have the temerity to lie," she added.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said Sara should hear the demands of public school teachers in the city instead of calling them terrorists and threatening to expel them from the city.

"Sa halip na takutin at pagbantaan, dapat salubungin ni Mayor ang kanilang demand dahil totoo naman na Davao City na lang ang malaking siyudad na hindi pa nagbibigay ng local allowance sa public school teachers," Tinio told reporters in an interview. —with Erwin Colcol/NB, GMA News