Martires pushes for mandatory values, religious education in all school levels

Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Thursday called for the mandatory inclusion of values formation and religious education in the curriculum from pre-school to college, saying that anyone who does not believe that values formation will stop corruption is "demonic."

Martires, in a multi-sectoral meeting he hosted in his office on Thursday, said that values formation coupled with religious education is the main entry point towards preventing corruption and as such, should come first before investigation and prosecution.

“Investigation and prosecution happen when a corrupt act has been committed. The only way to prevent corruption is to go back to our moral standards, the high moral values based on religion, not based on society and government,” Martires said.

“Our values from religion is strong, nakaukit sa utan at puso. That is the only way we can change society, not just the government,” Martires added.

Martires then said that he will enter a pact with the Education department and the Commission on Higher Education to execute his values transformation plan.

“I would be needing assurance that by next year, values formation and religious education will be integrated in the curriculum in public and private schools. If they won’t allow this, then I will accuse DepEd and CHEd of tolerating corruption,” he said.

“Anyone who opposes values formation and religious education is tolerating corruption. I am serious. Di ko babawiin ang sinabi ko. Anyone who does not believe that values formation is the only key to prevent corruption is demonic,” Martires added. — BM, GMA News